The fate of Amtrak's train line along Mississippi's coast will be decided by these key issues

Amtrak is making its final pitch to federal regulators for a new passenger line connecting New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.

But the private companies that own the tracks Amtrak’s trains would use are opposing the deal, arguing that the extra trains would cause significant harm to their freight business. The two sides have been battling it out for weeks, presenting their own witnesses and cross-examining their opponents in front of the federal regulators who will make the final decision to either greenlight or kill Amtrak’s plan.

There isn’t a clear deadline for a decision from the Surface Transportation Board, but Amtrak should have an answer soon on whether or not its trains can return to the Gulf Coast.

This marks the biggest decision yet in a quarrel over returning passenger service to the railroad for the first time since Hurricane Katrina, though the ruling could be appealed in court. The judgment here will also potentially set a precedent, with Amtrak’s national expansion ambitions hinging on what happens with these roughly 150 miles of railroad.

https://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/the-fate-of-amtraks-train-line-along-mississippis-coast-will-be-decided-by-these-key-issues/