Lawsuit says Norfolk Southern’s freight trains cause chronic delays for Amtrak
Norfolk Southern railroad has been causing repetitive delays for Amtrak services between New York and New Orleans. This is due to the fact that the massive freight trains operated by Norfolk Southern make the passenger trains wait while they pass by, according to a lawsuit filed by the federal government on Tuesday.
The Justice Department has taken the unprecedented action of filing a lawsuit, stating that Norfolk Southern is consistently violating federal law by not giving Amtrak’s trains the priority they are entitled to when crossing the tracks of a freight railroad. Amtrak depends on tracks owned by one of the six main freight railroads across most of the country.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized, “Americans should not have to face travel delays because railroad companies are not following the law.”
According to Jim Mathews, the President of the Rail Passengers Association, the Justice Department has rarely intervened since the law was implemented in 1973 despite numerous complaints regarding delays caused by freight railroads. Mathews highlighted that the ongoing issues with Norfolk Southern cannot be justified by severe weather conditions, supply chain disruptions, or other operational reasons.
Tom Crosson, a spokesperson for Norfolk Southern, mentioned that the railroad is dedicated to complying with the law that ensures passenger trains are given priority and is also focused on supporting the expansion of passenger rail.
Last year, only 24% of Amtrak’s southbound trains traveling on Norfolk Southern’s network arrived at their destinations on time. This resulted in the majority of the 266,000 passengers traveling on the Crescent Route between New York and New Orleans experiencing delays.
Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner stated that this lawsuit will play a crucial role in ensuring passengers reach their destinations as scheduled and emphasized the importance of enforcing the federal law that requires prioritizing intercity passenger trains over freight traffic on shared rail lines.
Norfolk Southern, headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the largest freight railroads in the United States, operating trains extensively across the eastern part of the country.
