Alabama State Port Authority

Labor warns Alabama port authority seeks ‘back door’ to automation

A labor union is warning regulators that the federal government would be subsidizing future job cuts as well as a drive toward freight automation if a Buy America waiver sought by the Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) is approved.

ASPA told the Federal Railroad Administration that the waiver is necessary in order to purchase two rubber-tired gantry cranes that it wants to install at its planned intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF) in Montgomery, Alabama.

Projects that receive funding...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/labor-warns-alabama-port-authority-seeks-back-door-to-automation

APM Terminals Mobile announces $60M rail expansion plan

APM Terminals Mobile has begun a $60 million rail expansion project that “doubles capacity for customers” at the Port of Mobile, Alabama.

The terminal is adding 12,000 feet of tracks, as well as additional rail yard storage space and container capacity. The project will also improve access to the Port of Mobile. 

Leo Huisman, head of APM Terminals Americas, said the aim of the project is to provide faster rail loading and departure options for shippers and 3PLs in the Midwest and Southeast parts...

Stakeholders reach potential settlement on Gulf Coast Amtrak service

Some level of Amtrak passenger rail service could be established on the Gulf Coast, based on a recent filing submitted to the Surface Transportation Board.

In a joint filing Monday, Amtrak, CSX (NASDAQ: CSX), Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) and the Alabama State Port Authority asked the board to hold off on a Nov. 30 hearing on Amtrak’s plans to restore Gulf Coast service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans because the parties have a potential settlement within sight.

The parties also asked STB...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stakeholders-reach-potential-settlement-on-gulf-coast-amtrak-service

CSX, NS and port push to keep Amtrak proceeding on track

Deliberations at the Surface Transportation Board over whether Amtrak should be allowed to reestablish Gulf Coast service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans are still ongoing, and all the parties appear to be holding fast to their convictions over the best way to address Amtrak’s request.

On one side, Amtrak says the board should grant its request to run two daily trains between New Orleans and Mobile. Amtrak previously offered service along the Gulf Coast, but that service stopped in the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-ns-and-port-push-to-keep-amtrak-proceeding-on-track

Regulators to conduct hearing on CP’s plan to merge with KCS

A photograph of two locomotives. One is from Canadian Pacific and the other is from Kansas City Southern.

The Surface Transportation Board will conduct a three-day hearing in September on the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern in order to speak directly with the railways, as well as any other interested parties, about issues that have arisen during the proceeding.

“I have strongly favored public hearings in our proceedings, which not only allow the board members to deeply explore the issues with our stakeholders but also advance transparency into our decision-making,”...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/regulators-to-conduct-hearing-on-cps-plan-to-merge-with-kcs

CSX, NS share confidential data with Amtrak, enter mediation

The Surface Transportation Board is allowing select Amtrak staff to review “highly confidential” market and operations information from CSX and Norfolk Southern so it can respond to questions raised during a proceeding on its request to restore Gulf Coast passenger rail service. 

The STB is also ordering board-sponsored mediation for all parties. 

Amtrak wants to run two round trips per day on CSX- and NS-owned tracks and infrastructure between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, and it wants STB to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-ns-share-confidential-data-with-amtrak-enter-mediation

Federal hearing on Amtrak’s planned Gulf Coast service powers on

The evidentiary hearing that the Surface Transportation Board is conducting this week on Amtrak’s request to restore Gulf Coast service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans appears poised to stretch beyond its original two-day schedule as the board and witnesses wrangle over what is and isn’t within the board’s jurisdiction.

Amtrak is seeking to reestablish service between the two Gulf Coast cities after service was stopped in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Amtrak wants to run...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/federal-hearing-on-amtraks-planned-gulf-coast-service-powers-on

Rail Roundup: Amtrak Gulf Coast update, CSX, Trac Intermodal, BNSF

STB denies railroads’ request for mediation in Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service proceeding

The Surface Transportation Board has denied a request by CSX (NASDAQ: CSX), Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) and the Alabama Port Authority to allow a mediator to come between the railroads and Amtrak over Amtrak’s request to operate Gulf Coast service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.

The railroads and the port had asked for board-sponsored mediation last on March 25, but STB denied that request for now. Any...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-roundup-amtrak-gulf-coast-update-csx-trac-intermodal-bnsf

Port of Mobile awarded $300M for infrastructure, intermodal improvements

The Alabama State Port Authority is set to improve infrastructure and intermodal access at the state’s only deepwater port with more than $300 million in federal funding.

The Port of Mobile will receive $265 million from the $1.5 trillion federal spending bill, which the U.S. Senate passed Thursday. The bill now goes to President Biden’s desk for signature.

Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby said the funds are “great news for our Gulf Coast.”

“South Alabama stands to benefit immensely from these...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/port-of-mobile-awarded-300m-for-improvements

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