Amtrak, two Class Is and other parties involved in a proposal to launch Gulf Coast passenger-rail service have until March 15 to submit a joint status report to the Surface Transportation Board.

Issued yesterday, the STB's decision relates to a Feb. 14 hearing at which the board wanted to know when Amtrak's Gulf Coast service would begin. Besides Amtrak, the parties involved in the proposed service are CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway, the Alabama State Port Authority and its Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks.