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Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited pulled into Cleveland three hours late on Sept. 29th, and was delayed another five hours before departing. Amtrak said Tuesday it's appointing a transportation panel to figure out solutions to congestion in Chicago that it says ripples out to create chronic delays on east-west corridors nationwide.

(All Aboard Ohio)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Amtrak said Tuesday it's stepping up efforts to relieve rail traffic gridlock in Chicago, the effects of which it described as radiating out nationwide.

Amtrak specifically cited delays of four hours or more between Chicago and Cleveland that it said have become a near daily experience.

Just last month, passengers on the Lake Shore Limited out of Chicago arrived in Cleveland 3½ hours late, then were hung up for another five hours before leaving town, causing one passenger to describe the Amtrak schedule as more of a "wish list" than a timetable.

"The unprecedented level of rail congestion is causing major delays for Amtrak passengers and freight shipments, which are damaging to the U.S. economy," Amtrak said in announcing that it's appointed a panel of rail and transportation leaders to study how to ease the congestion.

Gridlock in Chicago is causing major delays throughout the United States because it's the hub of the U.S. rail network and the key gateway between eastbound and westbound rail traffic.

Among the causes Amtrak cited:

• Rising demand on the East Coast for more intermodal freight and crude oil shipments that originate west of Chicago

• Underinvestment in critical rail infrastructure

• Short-term construction projects that create temporary bottlenecks

Amtrak said the Chicago Gateway Initiative panel will identify and evaluate track and station investments and operating changes that will improve both Amtrak's performance and that of freight rail service. The goal is to ramp up construction of rail infrastructure, while minimizing disruptions and delays. A final report on recommendations is expected in May.

"The action by Amtrak is outstanding," said Grace Gallucci, who heads Greater Cleveland's biggest transportation planning agency, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency. "They are taking a leadership role in solving the problem, the resolution of which will impact both passenger and freight rail service in a positive way."

Chronic train delays in the corridor skirting Lake Erie prompted NOACA to form an alliance this year with metropolitan planning groups in Toledo and Erie County to dig for solutions.

Ken Sislak, vice chairman of the advocacy group All Aboard Ohio, said in an email that he hopes the Amtrak panel "will look at the results of 50 years of disinvestment in railroad infrastructure (line abandonments, ripping out 4-track lines and converting them to 2-track lines, merger mania etc.)."

The federal agency that oversees railroads, two weeks ago, asked Norfolk Southern Railway to explain how it plans to improve the tardy performance of Amtrak passenger trains on its tracks.

Of particular concern to the Surface Transportation Board is service on the two lines that run through Cleveland, the Lake Shore Limited from Chicago to New York City and the Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington, D.C.

NOACA members met Tuesday with representatives of the Ohio Department of Transportation in a bid to persuade ODOT to release $938,000 that Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur secured in 2010 for rail planning. There was no immediate word on the outcome.

ODOT has said the money was initially earmarked for another rail project, so rail proponents and ODOT must agree on details of the revised scope of study.

Members of the Amtrak panel are former U.S. Rep. Jack Quinn, a past chairman of the U.S. House Railroads Subcommittee; Linda Morgan, former chair of the Surface Transportation Board; and Tom Carper, Amtrak board member and past chairman. The freight railroads that operate in Chicago and other stakeholders will be invited to participate and have a role in recommending solutions, Amtrak said.