SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

The Surface Transportation Board today issued a decision rescheduling the evidentiary hearing regarding the National Railroad Passenger Corporation’s (Amtrak) application to operate Gulf Coast service.  The evidentiary hearing scheduled to begin on March 9, 2022, will be rescheduled to April 4 and 5, 2022, and continue on April 6 and 8, 2022, if necessary.  The hearing will be held virtually.

While the Board does not anticipate that the evidentiary hearing will last more than two days, it is reserving April 6 and April 8, 2022, in the event the hearing cannot be completed in two days.

On February 15 and 16, 2022, the Board commenced a public hearing in this docket, at which members of the public had an opportunity to provide comments to the Board.  Following the conclusion of the public commentary, on February 16, 2022, the Board held a prehearing conference with counsel for the parties to discuss issues and procedures related to the evidentiary hearing.

On February 23, 2022, CSXT filed a motion to continue the evidentiary hearing and the schedule for prehearing submissions, and CSXT represents that the motion is unopposed by the other parties.  In light of CSXT’s motion and the unique circumstances giving rise to its request, the evidentiary hearing will be rescheduled for the above dates.

Today’s decision in Application of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation Under 49 U.S.C. § 24308(e)—CSX Transportation, Inc., and Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Docket No. FD 36496, may be viewed and downloaded here.

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