Who gets to go first?

Greetings
Ref: Trains Jan 1995 “‘Special Report’ Showdown for Amtrak”

The start of this article has a dispatcher with several priority freight trains to deal with, and has to factor in penalties if they do not make their respective schedules.

Then here comes a Amtrak train which is running late because of flooding along its route.

What are the current views as to which train has priority?

Does the region make a difference say the Northeast corridor vs. Chicago.

Thanks Gordon

Amcrash, opps…i mean amtrak always goes first… if thier is a big enought window where a frieght train is not going to affect it, the dispatcher might take a chance and run it… I have sat in the hole many an hour waiting for amtrak to go by for i was cut lose… but a good dispatcher will try and run trains in such a way that delays are keep down as much as posable…
at least that is what always happens to me!!! Then agin…im just a lowley coal drag… I wait for eveyone!!!
csx engineer

I think I have heard before that dispatchers generally “write-off” a train once it is late. No sense in making another train late for one that is already late. Some trains may have certain call times to run clear of passenger trains, a late passenger my screw up one or more frieghts that has connections with others and so a domino effect starts, maybe?

csxengineer98

Amen!

work safe

Unless you’re on the UP

Right now…UPS vans, Amtrak (Since we dont have management In the office anymore) who is gona know?

I take care of my crews, then passengers. (Unlike Jacksonville, Alot of our Dispatchers In Indianapolis know and get along with our Local Crews and LongPool / ShortPool Crews) Between StLous & Erie,Pa and Toledo & Columbus.

.We Need a Contract