New Rail Study

[Bob C]

Absolutely, Larry. Passenger service on freight lines causes all kinds of headaches. Amtrak needs to maintain a schedule, so demands (with backup from the relevant government agencies) "superiority" for their trains - freight must be held to clear track ahead of Amtrak's schedule/actual arrival times, and is restricted by special rules on following passenger trains between control points, further tying up the freight. Track maintenance standards may also be higher to allow for greater passenger train speeds not needed or unavailable to freight. Then, someone "goes penalty", or separates/derails/hits a vehicle at a crossing, and the whole plan falls apart for Amtrak and the host railroad, and "We stuck the Passenger" again, the radio starts buzzing and the phone in the office starts to ring ! Can you blame 'em ? Bob C.