(Source: Streetsblog USA, August 13, 2014)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court has the chance to redeem its spotty record of late by making the trains run on time. Yes, it’s in their power.
If you’ve noticed lately that Amtrak trains have been more delayed and more run-down than usual, there’s a very good reason for that. Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that Amtrak had too much authority to keep freight railroads in line. Most Amtrak trains outside of the Northeast Corridor run on tracks owned and operated by Class I freight railroads, meaning passenger trains can often get stuck behind freight trains that leave whenever their cargo is loaded, not on a schedule.
Full story: Streetsblog USA