Amtrak and freight railways agree to small step toward Gulf Coast passenger route
Amtrak has gained some access to the freight-owned tracks it needs to begin a Gulf Coast passenger route. But whether Amtrak’s desired Jan. 1 start date will go on as planned is still unclear.
Despite an ongoing battle through a federal transportation board, freight operators have given Amtrak limited access to their properties on the Gulf Coast. The agreement, outlined in letters given to the board, allows Amtrak workers on freight-owned property to survey and prepare for the possible Gulf Coast route.
But the parties are still far from agreeing to operate a passenger service that connects Mobile to New Orleans with four Mississippi stops. Amtrak filed a petition with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in March, asking the board to step in after years of failed negotiations over the route.
This week, Amtrak again pushed the board to speed up its decision making so it can begin the route in 2022.
Read more: https://mississippitoday.org/2021/07/08/amtrak-makes-small-step-toward-gulf-coast-passenger-route/