The Surface Transportation Board delivered a pivotal decision today which signals another step forward in returning passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast. The Southern Rail Commission issued this statement:

“This STB decision is incredibly gratifying, and the Southern Rail Commission is pleased that the STB refused CSX’s and Norfolk Southern’s effort to dismiss Amtrak’s petition for access to operate passenger rail between New Orleans and Mobile,” said Knox Ross, Mississippi SRC Commissioner. “We are especially pleased that STB found no need for an environmental review and set an aggressive hearing schedule to resolve this process within an expeditious timeframe that could meet Amtrak’s stated goal of starting passenger service in January 2022. Our communities are ready for the return daily rail service.”

On March 16, 2021, Amtrak filed a petition with the STB requiring that the freight railroads, CSX and Norfolk Southern, provide access on the line between New Orleans and Mobile to allow Amtrak to perform all necessary preparations for Gulf Coast Service to commence in January 2022. The freight railroad companies responded by filing a motion requesting that the STB dismiss Amtrak’s application.

Today, the STB denied that motion to dismiss Amtrak’s application, issued a decision that establishes a procedural schedule with a hearing set in December 2021, and appointed an administrative law judge to resolve all discovery disputes.