Norfolk's
passenger rail service may be out of commission by Jan. 1, 2016 if
Congress doesn't act by the end of this year.
The
nation's largest railroads, including Norfolk Southern Corporation
and CSX Transportation, are rushing to meet a Dec. 31 deadline for
implementing a system called positive train control, a safety feature
for railroads mandated by Congress in 2009.
“We
understand and support Norfolk Southern's position,” city of Norfolk
spokeswoman Lori Crouch said. “We hope Congress will work
expeditiously to find a resolution.”
Norfolk-based
Norfolk Southern issued a statement Oct. 20 warning that passenger
and commuter trains operated by Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express and
Metra will be prohibited by
law from operating on NS tracks
after Dec. 31.
Amtrak
leases the right to operate passenger trains on NS's track to and
from Norfolk and other cities in the eastern United States.
Amtrak,
or the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, is funded in large
part by the federal government.
The
freight railroads own all of the right of way, or track, in the
United States. Amtrak leases the track under individual agreements
with the railroads.
In
its statement, NS said it will not meet the deadline, despite a $1
billion investment to adhere to federal safety laws.
CSX
Transportation sent a letter to Congress September 9, saying it could
not meet the Dec. 31 and warned that if Congress didn't extend the
deadline CSX would deny access to its tracks for passenger service
and the shipping of hazardous chemicals.
The
Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2008 mandated that the technology
be implemented by Dec. 31 of this year.
Passenger
rail service for Norfolk launched in 2012 with a daily train, leaving
early in the morning and returning at night. Norfolk opened a station
for passengers and baggage, a cost of $3.75 million, in 2012.
Norfolk
Southern received $114 million from the state to improve its tracks
and signaling between Norfolk and Petersburg where Amtrak would
switch to track owned by CSX, NS's competitor for coal and freight
traffic. CSX also received up to $9 million to reroute track over
which the Amtrak trains would operate.
Thelma
Drake, former Congresswoman and director of the Va Dept of Rail and
Public Transportation, championed the service and appropriated state
funding for the improvements.
Amtrak's
daily passenger service to and from Newport News on CSX track would
also cease if the extension is not granted.
NS
warned in in its 2010 annual report that implementation of positive
train control “may result in reduced operational efficiency and
service levels, as well as increased compensation and benefits
expenses, and increased claims and litigation costs.”
The
American Association of Railroads, the industry group for the largest
railroads in North America, warned Congress in 2013 that the industry
couldn't meet the 2015 deadline.
The
warnings to investors and the public may prompt Congress to grant the
extension, which seems likely. Congress, roiled by rebellion, may act
just to avoid a public drubbing.