(The Richmond Times-Dispatch posted the following article by Chip Jones on its website on February 28.)
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s transportation chief said yesterday that CSX Corp. has agreed to try to do a better job of keeping its railroad tracks clear during snowstorms.
Whitt Clement, state secretary of transportation, called CSX’s actions “an important first step.”
“I am optimistic we will be able to form a partnership both for passenger and freight rail,” Clement said.
CSX officials said Wednesday that they would develop contingency plans to avoid more weather-related shutdowns of Amtrak passenger service between Richmond and Washington. Also hard hit was the Virginia Railway Express, the Northern Virginia commuter rail.
CSX owns the tracks used by Amtrak throughout Virginia and by VRE between Fredericksburg and Washington.
The freight railroad’s decision to restrict passenger service after the Feb. 15 storm drew howls from stranded passengers and left all sides fuming. It was a blow to Amtrak, which had to cancel dozens of trains over four days.
But, Clement said, CSX agreed to consult with its passenger rail partners before unilaterally ordering a stop to passenger trains on its tracks.
“It will be done in collabora- tion with the VRE, Amtrak and the state,” Clement said. “I think that’s a big step.”
CSX spokesman Dan Murphy agreed that the transportation meeting was productive for the freight railroad, which has moved its headquarters from Richmond to Jacksonville, Fla.
In addition, CSX Chairman and CEO Michael Ward talked for about 20 minutes yesterday with Amtrak President David Gunn.
“They had a constructive dialogue that will lead to a variety of initiatives to work more cooperatively and effectively,” Murphy said.
CSX plans to participate in regular meetings to improve its passenger and commuter rail performance in Virginia, Murphy said.
The group will examine operating issues, such as whether CSX should buy more equipment and assign more people to maintain tracks and equipment in severe storms.
In return, CSX wants help from the state to keep roads open and get key rail workers to their jobs, Murphy said.
“We need to get key CSX people and equipment access to areas so they can operate,” he said.
Amtrak had additional problems with CSX last weekend as a weather-related slowdown led to 10-hour train rides for some passengers between Richmond and Washington.
Pete Sklannik, chief operating officer of the VRE, called the meeting “an important first step toward assisting CSX” with “pre-storm planning.”
Sklannik said he hoped CSX will base its decisions on local conditions when storms hit.
He said he was grateful to Clement and his rail chief, Karen Rae, for working toward “a corrective action plan” to avoid future shutdowns.
“We’ll continue to iron out” problems with CSX, Clement said. “We should be in much better shape if we have another severe challenge like the recent storm.”