Canadian National Railway (CN) and Amtrak have signed an eight-year operating agreement covering passenger services on CN-owned rail lines in the US.
The agreement applies to Amtrak services including the City of New Orleans, Illini/Saluki and Wolverine routes. It also resolves a dispute over the terms and conditions for Amtrak operations that had been before the US Surface Transportation Board (STB) for more than a decade.
The new agreement establishes a framework for CN and Amtrak to manage passenger and freight operations on shared routes. It includes a revised performance payment system aligned more closely with the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) on-time performance standard.
The companies will also conduct regular reviews of Amtrak schedules and have agreed processes for addressing operational issues and resolving disputes.
A separate part of the agreement will see CN and Amtrak work towards equipping Amtrak trains operating on CN’s network with Onboard Shunt Enhancers (OSEs).
The technology is designed to improve the detection of trains as they approach level crossings. This can help ensure warning systems, including barriers, flashing lights and bells, are activated when required. OSEs could also provide greater flexibility for passenger trains operating alongside freight services, potentially supporting timetable reliability while allowing both types of traffic to use shared corridors.
Installation of the technology is being supported through FRA funding and follows more than a decade of research and testing involving CN, Amtrak and the FRA.
Byl Herrmann, Interim President, Amtrak said:These agreements give Amtrak and CN a strong foundation to move forward together and deliver efficient, reliable passenger rail service. Together, we are improving performance for our passengers while investing in technology that enhances safety in the communities we serve. With steady encouragement from the STB and grant approval from FRA, we are able to bring this train into the station.
The agreement brings the parties’ long-running dispute over operating terms to a close, with both organisations acknowledging the role of the STB and FRA in reaching the new arrangements.
The routes covered by the agreement form part of Amtrak’s wider Midwest network, where passenger trains operate over infrastructure also used by CN freight services.
