‘What’s going on?’ Federal board blasts Amtrak, requests progress in Gulf Coast service

A federal board overseeing the nation’s railways blasted Amtrak Wednesday for a lack of progress in getting its passenger rail service restored on the Gulf Coast, and ordered the parties involved in an ongoing case before them to provide a detailed status report in 30 days.

U.S. Surface Transportation Board members, during the hearing in Washington, D.C., repeatedly expressed disappointment over the inability to get Amtrak trains operating between Mobile and New Orleans more than 14 months after a confidential agreement was reached in a highly watched case with national implications over the future of passenger rail service.

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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.

The Surface Transportation Board at a Wednesday hearing ordered Amtrak, freight railroads, the city of Mobile and others to make a "detailed" status report in 30 days. Amtrak said an operating agreement for land use for a station with the city of Mobile has not been finalized. 

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A Year After Striking Deal, Gulf Coast Service Has Yet to Return

More than a year after announcing that it had struck a deal to restore passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast, Amtrak trains have yet to return to the rails east of New Orleans. 

In late 2022, Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, the Southern Rail Commission and the Port of Mobile, Ala., announced a plan to spend $223 million on improvements to the rail line between New Orleans and Mobile as part of an effort to return passenger trains to the route in 2023. In early 2023, Amtrak even began qualifying crews to run the route. 

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Amtrak, CSX, NS and Alabama port officials ask STB to cancel hearing on Gulf Coast service

Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), the Alabama State Port Authority and Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks have asked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) not to hold a hearing on Feb. 14 on Amtrak’s proposal to operate service on a Gulf Coast rail line.

Last month, the STB announced it would hold a hearing Feb. 14 on the settlement agreement between Amtrak, CSX, NS and the Port of Mobile that would allow Amtrak trains to operate on a Gulf Coast rail line. The STB also required the parties to provide additional information on their agreement by Feb. 1.

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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.

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Northeast Texas Is One Step Closer to Gaining Rail Connection between D/FW and Atlanta

East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG)’s Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) recently hosted a news conference in Longview to reveal that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has officially designated the I-20 Corridor Intercity Passenger Rail Service as one of the selected corridors for the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program (CIDP).

Mobile’s waterfront park focus: Fix the bulkhead, then bring in the crowds

Mobile’s only waterfront park will be closed for the next year for repairs after an engineering group discovered structural defects along a walkway overlooking the Mobile River.

Cooper Riverside Park remains a part of the city’s long-term plans to spark more entertainment along its downtown waterfront surrounded by museums, a convention center and cruise terminal.

The park could also be the first stop for Amtrak passengers if a train stop is built at the foot of Government and Water streets to support a new New Orleans-to-Mobile twice daily route.

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