U.S. Gulf Coast

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

Alpenglow and CC&L Infrastructure acquire Texas rail terminal

Denver-based terminal operator Alpenglow Rail has partnered with infrastructure investment firm Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure (CC&L Infrastructure) to acquire Orange Rail, a newly constructed rail terminal in Orange, Texas. 

The terminal has access to Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) and BNSF (NYSE: BRK.B), and it serves a “diverse base of blue-chip rail customers,” according to Alpenglow. The facility consists of a loop track that can handle 120-car unit trains, and it has approximately 600...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/alpenglow-and-ccl-infrastructure-acquire-texas-rail-terminal

CSX and NS: Amtrak didn’t track Gulf Coast service impact

A photograph of an Amtrak train.

The Surface Transportation Board should not be swayed by the political winds that appear to support Amtrak’s ambitions when it comes to restoring passenger rail service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, attorneys representing CSX and Norfolk Southern said recently.

“This board is not a political rubber stamp. It is an independent arbiter required to neutrally apply the statute in a way that balances the interests of all stakeholders. And here Congress has made clear that Amtrak is not...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-and-ns-amtrak-didnt-track-gulf-coast-service-impact

CSX, Norfolk Southern want Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service proposal denied

CSX and Norfolk Southern want the Surface Transportation Board to deny Amtrak’s request to restore Gulf Coast service next year if Amtrak doesn’t agree to pay for infrastructure improvements that would ensure passenger service wouldn’t cause significant delays for freight rail.

CSX owns the tracks that Amtrak would use to go between New Orleans and Mobile in Alabama. Amtrak would also need access to NS’ track and infrastructure. By law, freight trains must give Amtrak priority when they share...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-norfolk-southern-want-amtraks-gulf-coast-service-proposal-denied

Amtrak pushes for access to Gulf Coast networks of CSX, NS

A photograph of a CSX train hauling tank cars.

Amtrak is urging the Surface Transportation Board to compel CSX and Norfolk Southern to allow it access to their networks along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Doing so enables Amtrak to “perform all necessary preparations for the restoration of the Gulf Coast service,” it said in a Wednesday filing to STB.

Amtrak is seeking to reinstall passenger service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, but CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) and NS (NYSE: NSC) want all stakeholders, including Amtrak, to complete a study that would...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amtrak-pushes-for-access-to-gulf-coast-networks-of-csx-ns

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