Amtrak Gulf Coast Service: Analyzing the Blame Game
June 01, 2021
Amtrak Gulf Coast Service: Analyzing the Blame Game Written by David Peter Alan, Contributing Editor
Amtrak is attempting to start service between Mobile and New Orleans, along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS) oppose Amtrak’s plan, and the issue is now before the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The issues are purportedly operational, having to do with rail capacity at the Port of Mobile, although there are also procedural issues to the controversy. There is a political dimension, too, with essentially the entire political establishment in Mississippi supporting Amtrak’s position and all of Alabama’s opposing it.
MINOT, N.D. When the Empire Builder stopped in this town of about 50,000 for an hour-long refueling break on Tuesday, Athena Larsen and her brother, Josh Medlin, piled on with her 4-year-old daughter and his two sons, ages 3 and 1.
Legislators Reintroduce Grade Crossing Safety Grant Bill railwayage.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from railwayage.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
WORCESTER A public investment in intercity, particularly railroads connecting Western Massachusetts with Central and Eastern Massachusetts, can help local economies develop and curb the nation s carbon footprint, U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey said. We have become a box-office smash as a state, as a destination economically for people not only across our country but across the world, Markey said. We want to continue to make this a welcoming place and rail is an essential part of that planning.
Markey and U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, announced the reintroduction of the Building Rail Across Intercity Networks to Ride Around Interior of the Nation Act, or the BRAIN TRAIN Act, Wednesday during a press conference at Union Station. Markey initially introduced the legislation last May with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield.
Congress, STB try to help Amtrak get on track with performance metrics
On-time performance means passengers arrive at destinations or detraining points no later than 15 minutes after published scheduled arrival time 4 minutes read An Amtrak train. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
Congressional leaders and regulators are looking at ways Amtrak can improve its on-time performance, and they’re employing different tactics to get to that goal.
The freight railroads factor into Amtrak’s ability to meet certain on-time performance metrics because the railroads and Amtrak share the same track in certain areas of the U.S. rail network, such as heavily-trafficked areas near Chicago or along the Northeast corridor. According to a 2020 Amtrak fact sheet, 72% of the miles traveled by Amtrak trains are on tracks owned by other railroads, including commuter line Metro-North and Class I railroads such as BNSF (NYSE: BRK.B) and Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP). By law, the freight railroad