WASHINGTON — Score one small win for Amtrak in its ongoing effort to launch service along the Gulf Coast.
The Surface Transportation Board on Monday issued a decision honoring Amtrak’s request for an order allowing it access to CSX Transportation’s Choctaw Yard in Mobile, Ala., to conduct a survey to determine a possible site for a layover track for trains on the proposed New Orleans-Mobile route.
Amtrak had asked for that order in an October filing, saying CSX was “no longer working with Amtrak” [see “Amtrak asks STB to compel cooperation …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 20, 2021] or allowing access to its lines in preparation for the launch of the Gulf Coast trains. Amtrak had first asked for such an order in March when it initiated a case asking the STB to require CSX and Norfolk Southern to allow it to operate on the New Orleans-Mobile route [see “Amtrak asks STB to require CSX, NS to allow Gulf Coast Service,” News Wire, March 16, 2021]; at that time, the STB said the matter was moot because the railroads were cooperating.
Amtrak’s October request drew a heated response from CSX claiming the passenger railroad sought “unrestrained access” and that its request was — among other things — unreasonable, unsafe, and premature [see “CSX offers scorching response …,” News Wire, Nov. 10, 2021]. While CSX claimed in that filing that Amtrak did not propose use of Choctaw until July of this year, the STB noted that CSX and Norfolk Southern referenced use of the facility in their opening-evidence filing earlier this month [see “CSX, NS say Gulf Coast passenger service would ‘devastate’ freight operations,” News Wire, Nov. 4, 2021].
In Monday’s decision, the STB said, “Although Amtrak’s request … is untimely, it is reasonable, and in the interest of developing a complete record, the request will be granted.”
In a brief statement on Monday, Amtrak said it “appreciates the prompt and favorable ruling.”
The board also granted a Norfolk Southern’s argument that it should be dismissed from the Amtrak request. While NS was included in the October filing, Norfolk Southern noted it had cooperated with Amtrak’s access requests.
