Amtrak, Ala. high stakes battle

MOBILE, Ala. - The return of Amtrak passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast could happen this fall despite CSX slow-walking its approval for use of its train tracks. The high stakes battle pitted Amtrak against freight operators and the Alabama State Port Authority here at a Feb. 15 public hearing before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. Amtrak and Southern Rail Commission officials also participated. The board heard comments regarding infrastructure improvements needed for the Port City’s leg of the route. Hurricane Katrina devastated the region and rail lines in 2005. “Resumption of the service after more than 16 years would mark the completion of a long recovery from one of the strongest storms on record,” said U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). “(A)ll the cities along the coast have done an incredible job of rebuilding the beaches, downtown areas, casinos, and businesses,” said SRC Chairman Knox Ross. “The one thing missing is a way to get people to us.” The route would make two runs a day from Mobile to New Orleans with four stops along the coast in Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula, and Bay St. Louis in Mississippi. Ross believes service will be restored during the fall, at the latest. On March 8-9, an evidentiary meeting will be held before the STB. Afterwards, the board will make a final determination. A second day of hearings was to be held Feb. 16. (Source: WLOX 02/15/22) Amtrak rail service expected to begin on Gulf Coast by this fall (wlox.com) The return to the Gulf Coast would lead to negative impacts on the Port of Mobile and economic harm to a key job generator in Alabama, officials within the state almost uniformly testified to the STB. Some advocates for the return of passenger rail service blame freight operators, like CSX and Norfolk Southern, for triggering fear among coastal Alabama officials and for “stonewalling” the project. In November, the Alabama State Port Authority – in a filing to the STB – said the project “would be calamitous” for the Alabama State Docks in Mobile. In that late fall filing, the ASPA urged the STB to deny Amtrak’s Gulf Coast project. (Source: AL.com 02/15/22 & 11/04/21) Alabama officials to feds: Amtrak restoration along Gulf Coast will harm Port of Mobile - al.com