Railroads have a legal responsibility to allow Amtrak to use their tracks.
It was perhaps best summed up by Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose, who spoke in favor of expanded passenger service. While the hearing was focused on passenger service on a 150-mile stretch of track across Louisana, Mississippi and Alabama, the decisions made here could have major impacts on future relations between Amtrak and Class I hosts. The conflict between the passenger railroad and the freight carriers has been brewing for more than a year and it appears to have finally come to a head before the federal regulator that will ultimately decide what happens. But the Class Is disagree, taking the stance that Amtrak should pay for millions of dollars in capital improvements so that freight trains along the route are not delayed. Surface Transportation Board butted heads on February 15 and 16, during a two-day hearing about the future of passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast.Īmtrak says it can start running two daily trains between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., with little impact on the two host railroads, CSX and NS. WASHINGTON - Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern and even members of the U.S. CSX, Amtrak Butt Heads on Gulf Coast Service Before STB