193 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

AL.com  1/18/24:

 

 

  Mobile mayor says Gulf Coast rail restart ‘in Amtrak’s court’      

 

 

The long-stalled restart of Gulf Coast passenger rail is “in Amtrak’s court,” according to Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson.

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

Trains magazine, 1/19/24:

 

 

 

     STB seeks answers for delay on Gulf Coast settlement: Analysis    

 

 

 

The Surface Transportation Board has called for Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Port of Mobile, Ala., to provide “detailed information regarding the status of the implementation of the settlement agreement” agreed to in November 2022 to allow Amtrak service to begin between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. — and scheduled a February hearing to address the matter.

 

Complete story

[KevinKorell]

AL.com  2/1/24:

 

 

   Amtrak eyes possible dismissal of Gulf Coast rail case before May 1    

 

 

Amtrak believes the execution of a $178 million federal grant is “proceeding well,” and that a lengthy case before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board over the fate of passenger rail service between Mobile and New Orleans could be dismissed on or before May 1, a filing submitted Thursday states.

 

This is the story.

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

Amtrak, railroads ask STB to cancel hearing on status of Gulf Coast agreement

 

By David Lassen | February 2, 2024

 

Joint filing says parties ‘have no further information to offer’

 

WASHINGTON — The parties involved in the agreement to allow the launch of Amtrak Gulf Coast service have filed a joint update on that agreement requested by the Surface Transportation Board, asking that the board scrap a hearing planned for Feb. 14 “as the Parties have no further information to offer.”

 

SNIP

 

Thursday’s six-page joint filing by Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority and its short line, Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks, offers little in the way of new information, but seems to reinforce that the negotiations with Mobile are a major source of delay. Amtrak notes it has provided a draft agreement to the city, has held a meeting with Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and his staff, and says that it “understands that final land use terms must be approved by a supermajority vote of the Mobile City Council.” The update also says the port “has agreed to facilitate discussions and provide support for all efforts Amtrak undertakes with local authorities to promptly reach an agreement …,” which could be significant, given the port’s longstanding opposition to the Amtrak operation over concerns it will interfere with port operations.

 

 

More here.  

[CNJRoss]

Railway Age, 2/2/24

 

What’s the Status of Amtrak Gulf Coast Service?

 

 

Work is still under way on settlement terms and conditions for launching Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service between New Orleans and Mobile, “America’s Railroad,” CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS), and Alabama State Port Authority and its rail common-carrier operating division, Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks, told the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in a Feb. 1 filing, which asked the Board to continue holding the case in abeyance, until at least May 1.

 

The parties provided a joint status report (download below) in accordance with STB orders, so the federal agency could “reasonably understand” the remaining steps necessary to fully implement their settlement agreement and ultimately restore passenger service in a region that has not had access to it since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Amtrak, CSX, NS, and Alabama State Port Authority and Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks reached the agreement in November 2022.

 

 

Continue here.  

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

STB to proceed with Amtrak Gulf Coast hearing

 

By Trains Staff | February 7, 2024

 

Feb. 14 event will consider delays in starting New Orleans-Mobile service

 

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will proceed with its planned hearing on the status of Amtrak Gulf Coast service on Wednesday, Feb. 14, the board announced in a decision issued Tuesday.

 

SNIP

 

The board has also invited the City of Mobile to participate in the hearing if it chooses. Last week’s filing suggested that negotiations between Amtrak and the city — which is not a party to the settlement — over land needed for a siding at the Mobile station site is one of the issues delaying the start of service, which Amtrak had originally indicated would occur in 2023.

 

Amtrak said in a statement today that it “appreciates the Board’s continuing interest in establishment of new service between Mobile and New Orleans” and “looks forward to participating in the hearing.”

 

 

More here.  

 

STB.gov

 

DECISION - FD_36496

 

Feb 6, 2024

 

APPLICATION OF THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORP. UNDER 49 U.S.C. § 24308(E) – CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC., AND NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY

 

Attachment(s): 52036.pdf

 

[KevinKorell]

Trains magazine, 2/8/24:

 

 

     City of Mobile to skip STB hearing on Amtrak service    

 

 

The City of Mobile will not take part in the Surface Transportation Board’s hearing on delays in launching Amtrak service between Mobile and New Orleans, Mayor Sandy Stimpson informed the board in a brief letter today (Thursday, Feb. 8).

 

This is the latest.

[KevinKorell]

New Orleans, LA City Business, 2/15/24:

 

 

   New track delays holding up Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service      

 

 

Delays with new track in Alabama are being cited by Amtrak officials as the holdup for new service on the Gulf Coast.

 

This is the story.

[KevinKorell]

Trains magazine, 2/15/24:

 

 

   STB members question Gulf Coast delays and non-disclosure at hearing: Analysis    

 

 

Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin Oberman was so disappointed in the lack of information provided at Wednesday’s board hearing into the status of Amtrak Gulf Coast service that he ordered the parties to come back in 30 days with a detailed report to address the board’s unanswered questions.

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

Trains magazine, 2/16/24:

 

 

     Amtrak should bail out on proposed Gulf Coast service: Analysis  

 

Nearly three years after Amtrak said it would launch Gulf Coast service with or without host railroad cooperation, its passenger trains still are not running between Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans. And as the saga drags on you have to wonder if they ever will.

 

Full story