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DOJ: Norfolk Southern to give Amtrak trains 'highest priority'
Rail News Home Amtrak 9/10/2025
Rail News: Amtrak
DOJ: Norfolk Southern to give Amtrak trains 'highest priority'
Norfolk Southern Railway has agreed to give Amtrak trains "highest priority" over freight trains on NS track along the passenger railroad's Crescent route, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced yesterday.
NS agreed in a settlement to resolve allegations that the Class I delayed Amtrak passenger trains on Amtrak’s Crescent Route in violation of federal law by failing to give Amtrak trains preference over freight trains. As a result of the settlement, the department has moved to dismiss its lawsuit against NS, DOJ officials said in a press release.
The DOJ sued NS in July 2024 for allegedly delaying passenger trains on Amtrak's Crescent route, which runs between New York City and New Orleans. NS controls 1,140 miles of the 1,377-mile route.
As part of the settlement, NS agreed to provide all Amtrak trains the highest priority; instruct its employees to give priority to Amtrak trains; require supervisor approval for any dispatching decision that does not give priority to Amtrak trains in non-emergency situations; and provide records regarding delays that Amtrak trains undergo while traveling on the Crescent Route controlled by NS.
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Rail News: Amtrak
DOJ: Norfolk Southern to give Amtrak trains 'highest priority'
Norfolk Southern Railway has agreed to give Amtrak trains "highest priority" over freight trains on NS track along the passenger railroad's Crescent route, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced yesterday.
NS agreed in a settlement to resolve allegations that the Class I delayed Amtrak passenger trains on Amtrak’s Crescent Route in violation of federal law by failing to give Amtrak trains preference over freight trains. As a result of the settlement, the department has moved to dismiss its lawsuit against NS, DOJ officials said in a press release.
The DOJ sued NS in July 2024 for allegedly delaying passenger trains on Amtrak's Crescent route, which runs between New York City and New Orleans. NS controls 1,140 miles of the 1,377-mile route.
As part of the settlement, NS agreed to provide all Amtrak trains the highest priority; instruct its employees to give priority to Amtrak trains; require supervisor approval for any dispatching decision that does not give priority to Amtrak trains in non-emergency situations; and provide records regarding delays that Amtrak trains undergo while traveling on the Crescent Route controlled by NS.
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Norfolk Southern agrees to give Amtrak trains highest priority over freight trains
by WPMI
Tue, September 9th 2025 at 9:57 AM
FILE - A passenger disembarks from Amtrak's Sunset Limited at its final stop in New Orleans,(AP Photo/Pat Semansky, File)
WASHINGTON (WPMI) — The Justice Department today announced a settlement with Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company (together, Norfolk Southern) to resolve allegations that Norfolk Southern delayed Amtrak passenger trains on Amtrak’s Crescent Route in violation of federal law by failing to give Amtrak trains preference over freight trains. As a result of the settlement, the Justice Department has moved to dismiss its lawsuit against Norfolk Southern.
As part of the settlement, Norfolk Southern agreed to provide all Amtrak trains the highest priority; train its employees to give priority to Amtrak trains; require supervisor approval for any dispatching decision that does not give priority to Amtrak trains in non-emergency situations; and provide records regarding delays suffered by Amtrak trains traveling on the Crescent Route controlled by Norfolk Southern. Norfolk Southern has also pledged to assist the Justice Department in determining the root cause of any delays to Amtrak Crescent Route trains. Norfolk Southern’s Vice President of Compliance will annually certify that Norfolk Southern is in compliance with the agreement and its obligations under the law to provide Amtrak trains preference.
“Americans traveling by train are entitled to trips free from delays caused by railroads failing to give Amtrak preference over freight trains,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The settlement reached today, as well as Norfolk Southern’s improved performance on Amtrak’s Crescent Route, demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting everyday American train passengers.”
The Crescent Route, operated by Amtrak (also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation), is a 1,377-mile passenger line that stops at 33 cities and towns connecting rural areas in Virgina, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana to each other and larger cities. Norfolk Southern controls 1,140 miles of rail line on the Crescent Route and handles dispatching for all trains along that segment. Approximately 304,000 passengers traveled on the Crescent Route during 2024 and year-over-year ridership has increased so far in 2025.
{snip}
by WPMI
Tue, September 9th 2025 at 9:57 AM
FILE - A passenger disembarks from Amtrak's Sunset Limited at its final stop in New Orleans,(AP Photo/Pat Semansky, File)
WASHINGTON (WPMI) — The Justice Department today announced a settlement with Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company (together, Norfolk Southern) to resolve allegations that Norfolk Southern delayed Amtrak passenger trains on Amtrak’s Crescent Route in violation of federal law by failing to give Amtrak trains preference over freight trains. As a result of the settlement, the Justice Department has moved to dismiss its lawsuit against Norfolk Southern.
As part of the settlement, Norfolk Southern agreed to provide all Amtrak trains the highest priority; train its employees to give priority to Amtrak trains; require supervisor approval for any dispatching decision that does not give priority to Amtrak trains in non-emergency situations; and provide records regarding delays suffered by Amtrak trains traveling on the Crescent Route controlled by Norfolk Southern. Norfolk Southern has also pledged to assist the Justice Department in determining the root cause of any delays to Amtrak Crescent Route trains. Norfolk Southern’s Vice President of Compliance will annually certify that Norfolk Southern is in compliance with the agreement and its obligations under the law to provide Amtrak trains preference.
“Americans traveling by train are entitled to trips free from delays caused by railroads failing to give Amtrak preference over freight trains,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The settlement reached today, as well as Norfolk Southern’s improved performance on Amtrak’s Crescent Route, demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting everyday American train passengers.”
The Crescent Route, operated by Amtrak (also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation), is a 1,377-mile passenger line that stops at 33 cities and towns connecting rural areas in Virgina, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana to each other and larger cities. Norfolk Southern controls 1,140 miles of rail line on the Crescent Route and handles dispatching for all trains along that segment. Approximately 304,000 passengers traveled on the Crescent Route during 2024 and year-over-year ridership has increased so far in 2025.
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