DOJ Files Complaint against NS For Delaying Passenger Train

[NW Mailing List]

DOJ files complaint against Norfolk Southern for not ceding freight traffic to passenger trains
 
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a complaint against Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC) for delaying passenger service on the Crescent Route in violation of federal law.

The 1,377-mile Crescent Route, which runs between New York City and New Orleans, is shared by both Amtrak and Norfolk Southern, although federal law requires Norfolk Southern (NSC) to give preference of travel to passenger trains over freight trains.

According to the complaint from the DOJ, Norfolk Southern (NSC) “regularly” fails to give preference to passenger trains, leading to “widespread delays that harm and inconvenience train passengers, negatively affecting Amtrak’s financial performance, and impede passenger rail transportation.”

The complaint alleges that only 24% of southbound Crescent Route passenger trains traveling on the 1,140 miles of the route operated by Norfolk Southern arrived at their destination on time.

The complaint cites an example in which an Amtrak train 10 miles outside of New Orleans was delayed by almost an hour when Norfolk Southern (NSC) dispatchers required it to travel behind a slow-moving freight train.

“Americans should not experience travel delays because rail carriers break the law. Our action today alleges that Norfolk Southern violates federal law by failing to give the legally required preference to Amtrak passenger trains over freight trains,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in the complaint.

“We will continue to engage the railroad industry and work with Amtrak to ensure that freight railroads comply with their legal obligations and that Amtrak customers are not subjected to unacceptable, unnecessary, and unlawful delays,” added Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Amtrak is a federally chartered corporation, majority-owned by the federal government, with a board of directors appointed by the U.S. President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The company is operated for-profit, rather than as a public authority.

 

Kenneth Borg
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