Amtrak to Back CP-KCS Merger

Amtrak said Thursday it will support the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern during the regulatory review process.

The passenger carrier said CP has agreed to cooperate with Amtrak in various service expansions in the Midwest and South.

These include increasing the frequency of service between Chicago and Milwaukee; extending a Hiawatha Service trains west of Milwaukee to St. Paul, Minnesota; and allowing Amtrak to use the Detroit River Tunnel to extend service to Toronto via Windsor, Ontario.

The latter service would connect with trains of VIA Rail Canada.

CP also has agreed to work with Amtrak to launch new service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and to participate in a study of new service between Dallas and Meridian, Mississippi.

In a statement, Amtrak President Stephen J. Gardner cited CP’s “consistent record as an Amtrak host” railroad, having achieved an A rating in the passenger carrier’s annual host railroad report card.

Amtrak said CP is the first Class I railroad to “complete 100 percent  certification of its Amtrak schedules” to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

Tags: Amtrak, Amtrak in Michigan, Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern