Amtrak to STB: Reject CN request for divestiture of KCS line

Amtrak is asking the Surface Transportation Board to reject CN’s effort to obtain Kansas City Southern trackage between East St. Louis, Illinois, and Kansas City, Missouri.

Earlier this year, CN asked the STB to grant it certain trackage in the region as a condition of the board’s approval of Canadian Pacific’s acquisition of KCS. CN wants the STB to order the divestiture of the KCS line from Kansas City to Springfield and East St. Louis so that CN can create the Kansas City Speedway — a single-line route between eastern Canada, Detroit, Chicago and Kansas City.

In a response filed July 12 with the STB, Amtrak said it opposes CN’s request because of the potential impact on Amtrak’s on-time performance when operating its trains over the line.

Amtrak operates trains over nine rail lines on which there would be more freight trains and/or longer freight trains operating on those lines if CN’s request is approved, Amtrak’s filing states.

Although CN has stated that it would invest in upgrades on rail line segments where additional freight trains would operate, the Class I has no plans to upgrade capacity on any of the lines over which Amtrak trains operate, Amtrak states.

To read Amtrak's filing with the STB, click here.