Amtrak blames freight operators for hours-long delays
Amtrak is blaming two freight train operators for causing delays that dropped its on-time performance between Chicago and Washington, D.C., to 2.7% in a recent quarter, with trains as late as 10 hours not unusual.
In a complaint filed Monday with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, Amtrak said in a news release that Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation caused "unacceptable delays" effecting its Capitol Limited service for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, "down from an already substandard 33.6% the previous quarter."
"The delays are continuing as Amtrak had to provide bus transportation between Toledo and Chicago for six days in October to better accommodate passengers when Capitol Limited trains had often been 8 to 10 hours late," the release said, noting that the line also has daily stops in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Toledo and South Bend, Ind.
Michigan travelers have experienced delays as well on Amtrak trains in recent months.
"Amtrak's Michigan trains to Chicago had an average on-time record of just 33.4%" through September for the previous 12 months, according to a Free Press report in October. The delays were blamed on freight train interference or track and signal problems.
Amtrak noted the impact such delays have on its passengers.
"Poor on-time performance creates a major disruption for Amtrak customers due to delayed trains and missed connections. It also negatively impacts Amtrak and state-supported services through decreased ridership, lost revenues and higher operating costs," the release said.
Amtrak said it is also seeking an investigation of Canadian National Railway for delays on its Illini/Saluki service in Illinois and has established a "Blue Ribbon Panel" to identify ways to improve rail gridlock in Chicago.
After initially declining to address the Amtrak allegations, Dave Pidgeon, a spokesman for Norfolk Southern, released a statement Tuesday afternoon.
"Norfolk Southern will answer this case in the appropriate venue at the appropriate time, but the simple fact is the effects of congestion on the nation's rails are not specific to one commodity or to just freight or passenger trains. It is important to Norfolk Southern that we ease congestion for the benefit of freight customers and passenger trains, which is why Norfolk Southern is investing millions to expand its network capacity, to hire hundreds of new conductors, and to take other proactive measures," Pidgeon said in his statement.
Kristin Seay, a spokeswoman for CSX, also issued a statement about the situation.
"CSX has a strong record of providing excellent and broad support of passenger train service. We remain committed to safe and on-time service for the 150 Amtrak and commuter trains that travel our network daily. Right now, the entire U.S. transportation industry is experiencing significant growth and the service challenges that, and regional weather, create. While we disagree with Amtrak's assertions in this matter, we look forward to continuing to partner with Amtrak to optimize service," the statement read.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence