U.S. DOT REPORT IDENTIFIES FREIGHT RAILROADS’ ROLE IN AMTRAK TRAIN DELAYS
WASHINGTON -- In response to a request from the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT IG) issued a report Monday entitled, “Root Causes of Amtrak Train Delays.” The report affirms that improper dispatching practices and poor operating discipline by freight railroads are among the key reasons why Amtrak trains suffer poor on-time performance on tracks operated by those host freight railroads. Over 70 percent of the miles traveled by Amtrak trains are operated over tracks owned by other railroads.
Federal law requires that, except in emergencies or as otherwise ordered by the Secretary of Transportation, passenger trains must be given “preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction or crossing.”
In testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in April, Amtrak President and CEO Alex Kummant said, “Poor on-time performance translates directly into greater operating costs and lost revenues for Amtrak.” He added, “Freight train interference delays and slow orders are the two biggest components of all delay minutes to Amtrak trains in FY 2007.”
With respect to the host railroads, the report concludes, “We found several root causes of Amtrak train delays that, if addressed, would improve Amtrak’s OTP [on-time performance] and financial viability.” The report further noted that major performance improvements to passenger rail could be achieved almost immediately through improved host-railroad dispatching management and operating discipline, recommendations that would benefit passenger rail as well as freight shippers.
Kummant said in April, “Good on-time performance is possible when host railroads use targeted operating and maintenance practices and give appropriate attention to the timely delivery of Amtrak trains.” Kummant also said, “The operating discipline of all trains on a route improves, because a well run railroad naturally expedites its own trains, as well as ours.”
A DOT IG report released earlier this year confirmed the importance of on-time performance to Amtrak, finding that poor performance on host railroads costs Amtrak in excess of $100 million annually. Amtrak applauds both the congressional interest in this serious problem and the DOT IG’s attention to these issues and hopes that this report and its recommendations will lead host railroads to work collaboratively with Amtrak to improve the on-time performance of passenger trains.
In a related development, members of the Illinois Congressional delegation sent a letter to the CEO’s of three major freight railroads, BNSF, Canadian National and Union Pacific, requesting that they prepare and deliver a plan to achieve on-time performance of passenger trains on their tracks of at least 85 percent. Citing poor on-time performance on Illinois-supported Amtrak trains, the letter also asks that the railroads identify what actions can be taken to create an immediate improvement in on-time performance.
About Amtrak
Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit amtrak.com.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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quote:Federal law requires that, except in emergencies or as otherwise ordered by the Secretary of Transportation, passenger trains must be given "preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction or crossing."
Thought this was no longer true.
Other than the quoted statement, this whole thing is the sort of statement that one of my British co-workers in my last job referred to as a "Pronouncement from the Bureau of the Blooming Obvious"
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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George, we in the US would use an adjective considerably different from "blooming" or even "bloody," which I understand "blooming" is an euphemism for.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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“Poor on-time performance translates directly into greater operating costs and lost revenues for Amtrak. ... Freight train interference delays and slow orders are the two biggest components of all delay minutes to Amtrak trains in FY 2007.”
Is Alex head of Amtrak, or the head of the "Department of Redundancy Department" head?
So is he getting freight train interference on the parts of the NEC that Amtrak doesn't own, as well? Metro-North doesn't run freight trains.
Posts: 566 | Registered: Mar 2002
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Maybe we have just been lucky. In the many years we have been riding from DC to CT and return the train has never been more than a few minutes late. Ditto for family coming here. Now going south on CSX trcks that is a whole different "ball game" as they say.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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