By Justin Franz
WASHINGTON — CSX Transportation is urging shippers to support it in its efforts to delay the return of passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast. The campaign comes just days before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board is set to hold a hearing about Amtrak’s proposal to run two daily trains between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala.
A passenger train has not run east of New Orleans since 2005. Amtrak would like to resume service as soon as possible but CSX and Norfolk Southern, which control the route between New Orleans and Mobile, says that could negatively impact freight service. The Class Is would like Amtrak to pay for various upgrades to the route before service resumes. Amtrak is asking the STB to force the freight railroads to give it access to the track.
In January, CSX CEO Jim Foote sent a message to shippers urging them to support the freight railroad ahead of the Feb. 15 hearing. Since then, form letters have been rolling into the STB asking that the federal regulator put conditions on the passenger railroad, like paying for various capacity improvements.
“Shintech does not oppose Gulf Coast passenger service and expresses no opinion on the merits of that service,” wrote attorneys for Shintech Inc., a Houston-based polyvinyl chloride producer. “However, it is important that the introduction of this passenger service does not decrease the quality of freight service provided by CSXT. It is our understanding that CSXT and NS have proposed infrastructure projects that would support Amtrak’s desired passenger service while protecting the quality of freight service upon which Shintech relies. Shintech urges the Board to seriously consider the merits of these projects.”
Identical language was used in other letters submitted to the STB.
Meanwhile, the Rail Passengers Association — a long-time proponent of passenger service east of New Orleans — was also trying to gather support for its position. This week, it posted a petition on its website asking people to back its position and have the STB force the freight railroads to allow passenger service.
