The Port of New Orleans and railroad associations in Mississippi and Louisiana, in separate letters filed to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, are urging federal authorities to require Amtrak to complete a Rail Traffic Control (RTC) study before resuming service between Mobile and New Orleans. Amtrak wants to restart the service by New Year’s Day with a twice-daily service connecting the two cities with four stops in Mississippi – Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis. The Port of New Orleans joined with the Alabama State Port Authority in Mobile – where the idea is polarizing - in requesting the resumption of the RTC study. A study by the University of Southern Mississippi says the expected return of passenger rail service to the Mississippi coast in 2022 could have a $500M economic impact on the state. At Mississippi ports, E.J. Roberts, president of the Mississippi State Port Authority that owns/operates the deep-water port in Gulfport, said April 22 that the agency does not “foresee the return of passenger serving having a negative impact of cargo” into and out of the port. He believes passenger and freight rail can coexist. Mark McAndrews, port director in Pascagoula, said his agency made modifications in 2015 to accommodate for future Amtrak service. The port moved its MS ExportRR/CSX interchange off CSX’s mainline to reduce congestion. McAndrews also said passenger and freight rail can coexist along the route. (Source: AL.com 05/12/21)
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