WASHINGTON – Tony the Tiger along with Snap, Crackle, and Pop are asking for a seat at the table so that they can have a say in the dispute over Amtrak’s plans to halt freight service to local customers in Pennsylvania for six weeks during a trackwork project.
Kellogg Co. says that losing freight service from trackage rights tenant Norfolk Southern will “substantially harm” its plant in Lancaster, Pa., which makes Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies, among other products. The cereal and snack maker on Thursday told the Surface Transportation Board that it would like to join the complaint filed by two other freight customers on Amtrak’s Harrisburg line.
Like two feed mills that filed the complaint, Kellogg receives inbound loads from Norfolk Southern, which serves the plant two to three times per week.
Wenger and Esbenshade, which produce animal feed for distribution throughout the Northeast, would lose service to their feed mills in Mount Joy, Pa., for the duration of the project, the companies told the STB in a complaint. The customers sought an injunction to halt the trackwork as well as a directed service order that would keep freight cars moving.
In a May 1 filing, Amtrak said the freight customers had not met the legal standard for an injunction and directed service order. In addition, Amtrak argues that the STB lacks jurisdiction over its routes and services.
The passenger railroad also told the board that there was no reasonable alternative to shutting down one track while the $167 million maintenance project is under way. NS won’t be able to reach the customer spurs while the track is out of service.
Amtrak, NS, and the feed mill operators are trying to reach a settlement, they told the STB on Wednesday. Lawyers for Amtrak and NS talked this week about their “mutual desire to reach an expeditious resolution of this matter.”
Amtrak is preparing to complete essential track and roadbed renewal work between Lancaster and Harrisburg – Cork (MP 68.6) to Rheems (MP 83.4) interlockings and Roy (MP 94.2) to State (MP 103.6) interlockings – on the Philadelphia-Harrisburg Line. Amtrak will adjust its schedules and use Track 2 while Track 1 is out of service.
Why not a portable unloading conveyor at some location nearby? Have seen pictures of them.
Just curious if a team track or transload site is in the area for temporary bulk transfer of the hoppers. Tony is a tiger and if, like a bear, gets poked, Tony will roar. Kellogg’s will find an expert logistics solution. The solution may be long term and will not favor continued use or expansion of rail transportation.
Amtrak has a longstanding antipathy to freight railroads. So, they likely would cheer NS losing customers.
I guess bustitution is not an option here… 🙂
Amtrak argues the freight customers have no legal standing to object to the service cut off. The Surface transportation has no juristriction over their tracks or service. While that may be true about the passenger portion of their operations. This line gave Norfolk Southern trackage rights to serve these customers. Since Amtrak agreed to have the freight service over their tracks they should be required to abide by STB regulations regarding freight operations over their owned tracks. Just like any freight railroad that have trackage rights over another railroads lines there is some rights and responsibility for the parties to work together to provide the best service to their customers. There is also one other issue. The state of Pennsylvania helps pay for the running of the trains over this line and has in the past provided funds to help upgrade the line. So they should also have some interest in helping serve the freight customers on this line. It would be in Amtraks best interest to find a solution to reasonably serve these freight customers.
If Amtrak is doing the same work they did between Overbrook and Paoli around 2009, then there is no way that the track can be used until the work is finished. Luckily for that project which involved completely replacing the track structure with concrete ties and new welded rail there were no industry sidings to disrupt. With four tracks they could take one out of service with minimal disruption to Keystone Service and SEPTA commuter service.
Does Amtrak have any execs with real railroading experience and ability?
Richard, look at the total lack of railroad operating expertise in Amtrak’s executive ranks, and you’ll find your answer.
” Lawyers for Amtrak and NS talked this week about their ‘mutual desire to reach an expeditious resolution of this matter.'”
Why not have the respective Engineering and Operating Departments come up with a solution?
Presumably these shippers have been around for some time. Presumably track maintenance has been necessary at various times over the years. Why all of a sudden does Amtrak have to shut down for an extensive period a mainline track from which there are shippers and/or consignees if this has not been required in the past?Also wonder how many other freight customers may be affected although not having entered the fray. I’ll side with Tony on this one. “They’re Great.”
Yes, “Tony-the-Tiger” to be at the table to represent Kellogg’s’ interest in not shutting this line down for six-weeks and maintaining service to the Kellogg Co. plant. Otherwise, no ‘Frosted Flags’ for breakfast on Amtrak trains !
While details of MP’s are given, I have no ETT to check. I sure will try. Probably moot point as this has been examined by pay grades much higher than me. endmrw0505231331
Can’t leasing some adjacent property and building a ‘shoo-fly’ be a temporary ‘fix’?
Of course the article states, they examined all possibilities. Sometime, things get over looked. Anyone know the area? I don’t note enough detail of the problem to Google Earth and see what is there. endmrw0505231326
Well, this is unusual.