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Amtrak Wins Argument That Passengers Go First and Freight Can Wait
Amtrak Wins Argument That Passengers Go First and Freight Can Wait
Regulators withdraw proposal to change law that gives Amtrak preference when on freight rail tracks
By Laura Stevens
Laura.Stevens@wsj.com
https://twitter.com/laurastevenswsj
Updated July 28, 2016 4:00 p.m. ET
Amtrak prevailed over freight railroads in a regulatory fight over whether Amtrak’s passenger trains should have the right of way over cargo trains.
The Surface Transportation Board said Thursday it has withdrawn a proposal that would have altered a law that gives Amtrak preference while traveling on freight railroads’ tracks. The board said it couldn’t resolve the broad disagreement between the parties and will refine its approach to the matter as specific cases arise.
Amtrak had urged the board to withdraw the proposal supported by the freight railroads. The national passenger railroad has been trying to boost service and reliability of its intercity and long-haul routes around the country.
Under current law, Amtrak says, it has the absolute right to go first, meaning that freight railroads must pull over trains or hold them to prioritize the passenger rail. Freight railroads interpret the law differently, defining “preference” for Amtrak as meaning balancing the passenger rail’s needs with their own while still prioritizing on-time performance.
Regulators withdraw proposal to change law that gives Amtrak preference when on freight rail tracks
By Laura Stevens
Laura.Stevens@wsj.com
https://twitter.com/laurastevenswsj
Updated July 28, 2016 4:00 p.m. ET
Amtrak prevailed over freight railroads in a regulatory fight over whether Amtrak’s passenger trains should have the right of way over cargo trains.
The Surface Transportation Board said Thursday it has withdrawn a proposal that would have altered a law that gives Amtrak preference while traveling on freight railroads’ tracks. The board said it couldn’t resolve the broad disagreement between the parties and will refine its approach to the matter as specific cases arise.
Amtrak had urged the board to withdraw the proposal supported by the freight railroads. The national passenger railroad has been trying to boost service and reliability of its intercity and long-haul routes around the country.
Under current law, Amtrak says, it has the absolute right to go first, meaning that freight railroads must pull over trains or hold them to prioritize the passenger rail. Freight railroads interpret the law differently, defining “preference” for Amtrak as meaning balancing the passenger rail’s needs with their own while still prioritizing on-time performance.
Surface Transportation Board
4 replies
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Freight Railroads Fight New Rule for Amtrak Trains
Rule requires passenger train on-time performance be determined at each of Amtrak’s stops rather than at the end of its route
The Surface Transportation Board will deem a train ‘on time’ if it arrives at, or departs from, a station no more than 15 minutes after its scheduled arrival or departure. Photo: Associated Press
By Laura Stevens
Laura.Stevens@wsj.com
https://twitter.com/laurastevenswsj
Aug. 17, 2016 5:30 a.m. ET
Freight railroads are challenging in federal court a new stricter way of measuring on-time performance for Amtrak trains, the latest wrinkle in a battle over how far freight trains must go to enable passenger trains to arrive on time. ... Currently Amtrak’s on-time arrival report card is below average, at less than 80% systemwide. That rate drops below 56% for long-distance trains.
The Association of American Railroads late last week filed documents with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging a new rule issued by the Surface Transportation Board that requires that passenger train on-time performance be determined at each of Amtrak’s stops rather than at the end of its route. The rule is to take effect later this month.
That means the on-time performance of Amtrak’s California Zephyr departing from Chicago will be measured at Denver, Salt Lake City and other stops en route, not just at its final destination near San Francisco.
This way of measuring on-time performance is seen as a more accurate way to measure Amtrak punctuality between cities that are stops on longer routes. The Board will deem a train “on time” if it arrives at, or departs from, a station no more than 15 minutes after its scheduled arrival or departure.
....
—Andrew Tangel contributed to this article.
Rule requires passenger train on-time performance be determined at each of Amtrak’s stops rather than at the end of its route
The Surface Transportation Board will deem a train ‘on time’ if it arrives at, or departs from, a station no more than 15 minutes after its scheduled arrival or departure. Photo: Associated Press
By Laura Stevens
Laura.Stevens@wsj.com
https://twitter.com/laurastevenswsj
Aug. 17, 2016 5:30 a.m. ET
Freight railroads are challenging in federal court a new stricter way of measuring on-time performance for Amtrak trains, the latest wrinkle in a battle over how far freight trains must go to enable passenger trains to arrive on time. ... Currently Amtrak’s on-time arrival report card is below average, at less than 80% systemwide. That rate drops below 56% for long-distance trains.
The Association of American Railroads late last week filed documents with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging a new rule issued by the Surface Transportation Board that requires that passenger train on-time performance be determined at each of Amtrak’s stops rather than at the end of its route. The rule is to take effect later this month.
That means the on-time performance of Amtrak’s California Zephyr departing from Chicago will be measured at Denver, Salt Lake City and other stops en route, not just at its final destination near San Francisco.
This way of measuring on-time performance is seen as a more accurate way to measure Amtrak punctuality between cities that are stops on longer routes. The Board will deem a train “on time” if it arrives at, or departs from, a station no more than 15 minutes after its scheduled arrival or departure.
....
—Andrew Tangel contributed to this article.