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Amtrak Wins Argument That Passengers Go First and Freight Can Wait [View all]
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The Surface Transportation Board said Thursday it has withdrawn a proposal that would have altered a law that gives Amtrak preference while traveling on freight railroads’ tracks.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The Surface Transportation Board said Thursday it has withdrawn a proposal that would have altered a law that gives Amtrak preference while traveling on freight railroads’ tracks.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
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