CHICAGO — In a brief ceremony in Chicago, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner has recognized Canadian Pacific for its sixth straight year with the industry-leading A grade on the passenger carrier’s annual Host Railroad Report Card. The report card measures the freight railroads’ performance in keeping Amtrak trains on time.
Gardner presented a plaque commemorating the top ranking to Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel at Chicago Union Station.
“CP is honored to receive this recognition of the success we have achieved as a host railroad providing industry-leading service to Amtrak on our lines,” Creel said.
“We applaud you and your team’s continued commitment to providing outstanding service to our passengers. Congratulations on six years straight as Amtrak’s best performing host railroad,” Gardner said.
Amtrak and CP reached an agreement in January on terms for expanding passenger service in the Midwest and South, leading Amtrak to voice support for the pending CP merger with Kansas City Southern [see “CP-Amtrak agreement details cooperative blueprint …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 7, 2022].
The presentation came Tuesday, the day before Gardner participated in a La Crosse, Wis., press conference to announce a $31.8 million federal grant funding improvements on CP that will allow an additional daily passenger train between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago [see “Wisconsin, Minnesota receive $31.8 million …,” News Wire, March 10, 2022].
Canadian National also received an A grade from Amtrak, while BNSF received a B-plus and CSX received a B. Union Pacific’s grade was C-plus, while Norfolk Southern’s was D-minus.
Canadian National’s grade is notable because as recently as 2018, CN received a D-minus; by 2020, the railroad had improved to a B-plus. Norfolk Southern has consistently struggled, although to varying degrees, receiving an F in 2018 and a C — still the low grade for all railroads — in 2020.
The full report card, with details on on-time performance, is available here.
— Updated at 5:45 p.m. CST with details on past grades; updated at 8:15 p.m. to correct date of presentation to Tuesday.
