By Justin Franz
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.
Passenger service east of New Orleans ceased in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina damaged the rail line. The line was later repaired for freight service, but passenger trains never returned. Over the last decade, Amtrak and its state partners have tried and restore regular service between New Orleans and Mobile, but the freight railroads dragged their feet, alleging that even one passenger train would disrupt service. As such, the freight railroads tried to get Amtrak to pay for major improvements on the line, but Amtrak said that was not its responsibility. Finally, in late 2022, all parties involved announced a compromise.
But when 2023 came and went with no passenger trains running, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board announced it wanted to know why. On January 19, the board announced that the next status report from the railroads would need to explain the delays (as part of the 2022 compromise, the railroads are supposed to keep the STB up-to-date on the effort). The STB also announced it would be holding a hearing on the issue scheduled for February 14.
But on February 1, Amtrak and the freight railroads filed a joint status report asking that the hearing be pushed back. In the update, officials explained that some of the money needed for the improvements along the route came from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program grant that was awarded in the fall of 2023. However, the grant terms and conditions were not received until December, delaying the actual funding. “Grant agreements are complex and sometimes can take six months or more to complete,” the railroads wrote. “Amtrak is giving this grant agreement its highest priority and is optimistic that it can be completed within the next few months.”
There have also been delays in Mobile, where about 3,000 feet of track need to be installed before service can resume. Amtrak is funding that with other funds and is working with CSX on the design. However, track construction is subject to review by the FRA to ensure it will not violate environmental rules. Amtrak must also lease land from the City of Mobile for its platform, a decision that will require a supermajority vote of the city council. Those negotiations are ongoing.
The railroads told the STB they would keep them informed of any changes before the spring.
On February 6, the STB informed the railroads, however, that the February 14 hearing would proceed as planned.
