neroden
Engineer
https://www.railwayage.com/passenge...-csx-ns-unwillingness-to-engage-meaningfully/
Click through to the actual Amtrak brief:
https://www.railwayage.com/wp-conte...se-to-CSX-and-NS-Motion-to-Dismiss-PUBLIC.pdf
Amtrak's management -- or at least its lawyers! -- are tired of CSX's lawless criminality and are asking for the STB to smack them down. I think they're going to get it, too.
A few of many, many choice quotes regarding CSX's criminality:
"Unfortunately, for the residents of the Gulf Coast, this vision has not yet become a reality. They have had to wait fifteen years for the restoration of passenger rail service as CSX and NS continually move the goalposts, imposing ever-higher burdens they claim Amtrak must meet before they will agree to allow even a single passenger train to run between New Orleans and Mobile. It is time to move forward and Section 24308(e) gives the Board both the directive and the power to remedy the current situation. "
"While CSX and NS disingenuously claim they “have not said no to Amtrak’s request” to restore service, Mot. at 2 (emphasis removed), they certainly have not said “yes” over the fifteen years that Amtrak has been asking. Amtrak need not wait forever for CSX and NS to outright refuse. "
"CSX in particular has put roadblocks in the way of the restoration of Gulf Coast Service, none of which is reasonable and, more importantly, none of which is required by the statute. "
" The SRC noted that throughout the Gulf Coast Working Group’s process, CSX evinced “a commitment to obfuscation and deceit” and “demonstrate[d] what can only be understood as an unwillingness to negotiate in good faith and an opposition to bringing back passenger rail service to communities along the Gulf Coast.”"
".... CSX and NS refused to share with Amtrak the most basic information necessary to validate the study. "
" The only thing that is “fundamentally unreasonable and unfair” here is that the people of the Gulf Coast have been waiting fifteen years for passenger service to be restored while CSX and NS continue to invent new preconditions they claim Amtrak must meet before they will consider allowing even a single train to run. "
" Congress enacted Section 24308(e) to provide Amtrak with an expedited process to overcome host railroad intransigence and allow expanded passenger service as soon as possible. Amtrak’s proposed procedural schedule is in line with that goal, and is fair and reasonable in both timing and sequence. The Board should decline to adopt any schedule that permits CSX and NS to draw out this proceeding in the same way they have drawn out the last several years of negotiation to reinstate the Gulf Coast Service. "
Click through to the actual Amtrak brief:
https://www.railwayage.com/wp-conte...se-to-CSX-and-NS-Motion-to-Dismiss-PUBLIC.pdf
Amtrak's management -- or at least its lawyers! -- are tired of CSX's lawless criminality and are asking for the STB to smack them down. I think they're going to get it, too.
A few of many, many choice quotes regarding CSX's criminality:
"Unfortunately, for the residents of the Gulf Coast, this vision has not yet become a reality. They have had to wait fifteen years for the restoration of passenger rail service as CSX and NS continually move the goalposts, imposing ever-higher burdens they claim Amtrak must meet before they will agree to allow even a single passenger train to run between New Orleans and Mobile. It is time to move forward and Section 24308(e) gives the Board both the directive and the power to remedy the current situation. "
"While CSX and NS disingenuously claim they “have not said no to Amtrak’s request” to restore service, Mot. at 2 (emphasis removed), they certainly have not said “yes” over the fifteen years that Amtrak has been asking. Amtrak need not wait forever for CSX and NS to outright refuse. "
"CSX in particular has put roadblocks in the way of the restoration of Gulf Coast Service, none of which is reasonable and, more importantly, none of which is required by the statute. "
" The SRC noted that throughout the Gulf Coast Working Group’s process, CSX evinced “a commitment to obfuscation and deceit” and “demonstrate[d] what can only be understood as an unwillingness to negotiate in good faith and an opposition to bringing back passenger rail service to communities along the Gulf Coast.”"
".... CSX and NS refused to share with Amtrak the most basic information necessary to validate the study. "
" The only thing that is “fundamentally unreasonable and unfair” here is that the people of the Gulf Coast have been waiting fifteen years for passenger service to be restored while CSX and NS continue to invent new preconditions they claim Amtrak must meet before they will consider allowing even a single train to run. "
" Congress enacted Section 24308(e) to provide Amtrak with an expedited process to overcome host railroad intransigence and allow expanded passenger service as soon as possible. Amtrak’s proposed procedural schedule is in line with that goal, and is fair and reasonable in both timing and sequence. The Board should decline to adopt any schedule that permits CSX and NS to draw out this proceeding in the same way they have drawn out the last several years of negotiation to reinstate the Gulf Coast Service. "
