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12/12/2022
Amtrak is asking the Surface Transportation Board to investigate why host railroad practices — primarily at Union Pacific Railroad — are contributing to substandard on-time performance (OTP) of its Sunset Limited trains in the southwestern United States.
In a complaint filed Dec. 8, Amtrak asks the STB to investigate UP steps, policies and strategies that impact Sunset Limited trains’ OTP, which Amtrak describes as “abysmal.” The national intercity passenger railroad is also seeking damages and relief from UP as a result of its practices.
The Sunset Limited is a long-distance passenger-rail service that runs three times weekly between New Orleans and Los Angeles. Sunset Limited trains travel over UP track for most of the route.
Amtrak identifies the Sunset Limited as its “worst-performing” route in terms of on-time arrival. Amtrak wants the board to investigate whether and how certain UP corporate strategies and objectives drive substandard service on the route.
For example, Amtrak asked the board to look into how UP dispatchers are trained, directed and paid; how UP dispatching algorithms are programmed; how UP trains and dispatching centers are staffed; how UP seeks to ensure that Amtrak’s statutory right to preference is effectuated; and how UP has reconciled its decision to implement precision scheduled railroading (PSR) with its obligations to host intercity passenger trains over the UP network.
Amtrak wants the STB to make recommendations to improve OTP on the Sunset Limited, as well as identify steps UP and other host railroads must take to prevent delay of Sunset Limited and other Amtrak trains traveling on host railroad networks.
Amtrak is seeking an investigation and relief under federal law that requires host railroads to give preference to Amtrak trains over freight traffic on the hosts’ networks. In 2020, the Federal Railroad Administration set metrics and standards to ensure that at least 80% of all riders on an Amtrak train arrive at their destination no more than 15 minutes after their scheduled arrival time.
Amtrak’s complaint is filed in two parts, which can be read here and here.