STB grants Amtrak's request to close Sunset Limited's OTP case

The Surface Transportation Board yesterday announced it has granted Amtrak's request to dismiss with prejudice its complaint regarding the on-time performance (OTP) of Amtrak Sunset Limited service and to close the STB’s related investigation following a negotiated settlement with Union Pacific Railroad.

The long-distance Sunset Limited service operates between New Orleans and Los Angeles. The 1,997-mile route runs mostly over track hosted by UP. In December 2022, Amtrak complained about late trains on the route and asked the STB to investigate its OTP.

The STB has authority to investigate when the OTP of an intercity passenger train averages less than 80% for two consecutive quarters. The investigation is conducted to determine whether and to what extent delays or failure to achieve the minimum standards are due to causes that the passenger-rail operator or the host railroad could address.

In this case, the board began an investigation and built a significant record, including more than 1,000 individual delay events, according to an STB news release.

In its most recent request, Amtrak informed the board that it has reached a settlement with UP and asked the board to dismiss its complaint and close the investigation. None of the parties involved object to those requests, STB officials said.

“The board favors parties coming together to voluntarily resolve disputes whenever possible, and I commend the parties here for finding a mutually satisfactory outcome,” said STB Chairman Patrick Fuchs.

The board's decision can be read here. The decision does not indicate what the Amtrak-UP settlement entails.