Surface Transportation Board The Amtrak Gulf Coast Limited Map 2024 between New Orleans and Mobile

What's Going on? federal Board blast Amtrak, request progress in Gulf Coast Service. in February 14 2024. A Federal Board Overseeing the nation's railways Blasted Amtrak Wednesday for a lack of progress in getting its passenger rail Service restored on the Gulf Coast, And Ordered the parties involved in an ongoing Case before them to provide a detailed status report in 30 days. U.S. Surface Transportation Board members , During the hearing in Washington D.C. repeatedly expressed disappointment over the inability to get amtrak trains operating between Mobile and New Orleans More than 14 Months After a Confidential agreement was reached in a highly watched case with national implications over the future of passenger rail service. it doesn't take 14 months to negotiate a lease if you wanted to reach an agreement, said Martin Oberman, Chairman of the STB. What is going on? HIGH PRIORITY Oberman expressed frustrations with a lack of information the parties involved in the case Amtrak, CSX transportation, Norfolk Southern and the Alabama State Port Authority Provided inna status update filed to the STB Earlier. this month, saying he has learned more about case through stories reported by the Alabama Media Group on AL.com. He also chastised Amtrak for Claiming the Gulf Coast Project remains a high priority despite a lack of conclusion over negotiations on a required lease agreement to provide a train stop in Mobile, and without securing an Operating agreement with the City of Mobile. A loose timetable for restarting the service set for October 2024 also seemed in doubt. A Representative with CSX Transportation One of two Freight Operations along the Route, Said it could take about one year to build a 3000-Foot Layover track Downtown Mobile to move Amtrak Trains of the Main Line. It's Hard of Me to sit here and say the trains will be operating in october oberman said it leaves a lot to be desired to bring this case to conclusion. if people really wanted to make a deal it doesn't take 15 months to make a deal. Representatives with the four parties in the Case attended the Hearing, Including an attorney with the Alabama State Port Authority that is facilitating negotiations between Amtrak and Mobile city Officials. the City of Mobile, Despite an invitation from Oberman, Chose not to Participate. Amtrak and the City of Mobile have Repeated said that Negotiations between two are progressing, Though no timetable has been given on when the layover track a train stop near copper riverside park and an operational agreement with the Mobile City Council will be Finalized. a hight priority has resulted in 14 months oberman said. I'm glad its not a low priority. Getting a train stop established in Mobile is viewed as the Key element toward restarting service along the gulf coast for the first time since Hurricane Katrina Heavily damaged Line in 2005. Why Should the public feel any assurance that you'll ever reach an agreement with mobile? Oberman Said. its Extraordinary Frustrating. We Are Talking about a Piece of Concrete you step on. Quite Frankly, I'm Skeptical. I Think you owe the Public (an Explanation). Amtrak in its filing with the STB on February 1st 2024. they Said, Hope to reach a conclusion in the Case by May 1st 2024. at which time they would ask it to be dismissed. Amtrak brought the Case against the Freight Operations CSX and Norfolk Southern in March 2021, Out of Concern over a Lack of negotiations to get the Project Started the Alabama Port Authority which once vehemently opposed the Passenger Rail Project was later added as a Party to the Case. Oberman also expressed dissatisfaction with the settlement agreement's Confidential Nature Saying that the Case involves multiple public Bodies spending public money on a Project that is part of a $178 Million Federal grant awarded to Amtrak in September. I think the public has right to transparency oberman said I would encourage at some point in this process, that the parties make some point of transparency. there is an Overuse of confidentially generally in my view Operating Agreements Other STB Members Blasted Amtrak for the Lack of Progress. Karen hedlund instructed the rail operator to never Bring another Case before The STB Without securing its operating agreements from the public bodies that are part of a project. Hedlund said the focus on hearings before the STB in 2022 focused primarily on the capital costs needed to get the Gulf Coast line Prepared for amtrak trains. Amtrak attorney jessica Ring amunson said the rail operator has agreements in place with the state of louisiana, But that an agreement in Mississippi was NOT Finalized. There is NO agreement in Alabama. the Mobile City Council in early 2020 Voted 6-1 to Authorize $3 Million in City tax Money to Support the Operations of the Service to help match a Federal grant. But terms of that approval are Viewed as outdated, By the Council. trains are not run now its time to stop shaking hands start moving.