WASHINGTON — Amtrak has asked the Surface Transportation Board to dismiss its petition asking the board to compel freight railroads to allow operation of Gulf Coast service between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., saying the terms of an agreement between the passenger operator, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority have been fulfilled — even though the service has yet to begin.
Amtrak filed the petition in March 2021, saying five years of discussions had not led to an agreement allowing the launch of the train [see “Amtrak asks STB to require CSX, NS …,” Trains News Wire, March 16, 2021]. That led to 11 days of hearings before the board — largely centering on the concept of “unreasonable impairment” of freight service — followed by board-ordered mediation before the parties announced they had reached a settlement in November 2022 [see “Amtrak, freight railroads say they have a deal …,” Nov. 22, 2022]. The settlement — terms of which remain confidential — avoided a precedent-setting decision by the board on Amtrak’s right of access, requirements for infrastructure upgrades before passenger service can be launched, and the board’s ability to impose terms for passenger operations.
Amtrak says its request for dismissal, filed on Thursday, Oct. 24, is unopposed by CSX, NS, and the port authority. The company requests that it be dismissed with prejudice, meaning it could not be refiled. The filing came two days after groundbreaking for a layover track and station platform in Mobile, Ala., one of the elements that has been holding up the start of service since the settlement was announced. Amtrak said that as of that date, “conditions necessary to resolve this matter … have been satisfied” to the point that Amtrak is asking for the dismissal. That includes full execution of a $178 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant for infrastructure work on the route, which also occurred Oct. 22.
The Gulf Coast service is expected to start in 2025, although no date has been set.
Amtrak should let the court case play out at least until the trains start running.
I haven’t been having a problem…
Off topic. Another week where most trains forum viewers cannot access it to post new subjects or make comments. Have to wonder if a critical person in IT either quit or was let go with no one able to fix the problem.