Southern Transportation Board orders mediation for Amtrak, rail lines, port

The Surface Transportation Board will allow Amtrak access to train data used by CSX and Norfolk Southern so it can run its own capacity modeling study.

The decision was made by the STB on Friday, which also ordered mediation between Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern and the Port of Mobile. This information comes from Trains magazine.

As a result, hearings will be pushed back from today to July 13.

At the most recent hearings on whether to resume Amtrak passenger service from Mobile to New Orleans, the STB board members grew frustrated with information received from both sides. The board has said it has not received information it needs to help the board reach a decision on whether adding two round trips to the existing line would “unreasonably impair” freight lines.

Both Amtrak and CSX expressed appreciation that the board has ordered mediation.

CSX says it “appreciates the STB’s decision to order Board-sponsored mediation and looks forward to working with the appointed mediator and all parties towards a reasonable and amicable solution.”

Amtrak told Trains that “appreciates the Board’s continued efforts to instill transparency into this process and will work to meet the board’s new deadline. We will also work with the mediator the Board appoints and continue our preparations for beginning this service along the Gulf Coast as soon as possible.”