Feds tell CSX: Stop delaying Amtrak's trains and fix your problems

The federal government has told CSX it no longer will tolerate delays that have slowed some of Amtrak's trains — including the Hoosier State, which travels between Indianapolis, Lafayette and Chicago — to a crawl.

Last month, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board wrote CSX CEO Hunter Harrison a letter "expressing concerns about deteriorated service," blasting the railroad for its "unreliable" and "inefficient" operations, as well as "poor communications and coordination."

The agency reiterated those concerns in a follow-up letter sent to CSX on Monday night.

CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle said Harrison has apologized to customers for those issues, which are the result of a new operational plan the railroad is rolling out.

"CSX understands that these changes have resulted in some disruptions to Amtrak on its passenger rail service on the Hoosier State line between Indianapolis and Chicago, and we have been in contact with Amtrak and the Indiana Department of Transportation about those issues," Doolittle said. "CSX is committed to continuing a dialogue about these concerns as operational changes occur."

Amtrak's Hoosier State and Cardinal trains operate on CSX tracks between Indianapolis and Dyer.

The Surface Transportation Board told CSX it will monitor the railroad's progress on a weekly basis.

Amtrak is doing the same. In June, its Hoosier State train from Chicago arrived on-time only one in three times.

"It remains a concern — and will be as we continue to report out the performance of that train and their handling of it," Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said.

Doolittle said disruptions will be short-lived.

Implementation of the railroad's new operational plan "will result in better service to our customers," he said.

The Surface Transportation Board did not return repeated requests for comment.