Amtrak threatens to cut Boston rail service

Amtrak is threatening to cut rail service from Boston to New York and Washington, D.C., because of an ongoing legal dispute with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority over who should pay for maintenance on a part of the Northeast Corridor, according to a court filing this week.

The threat is the latest salvo in an increasingly contentious lawsuit filed by the MBTA in January. After Amtrak requested nearly $30 million from the MBTA for services it performs along the tracks, the T sued Amtrak, alleging it was violating an existing agreement.

In the suit’s latest counterclaim, Amtrak says the MBTA is violating part of the agreement by refusing to pay for some maintenance that Amtrak has performed for the T — and that the T owes Amtrak at least $175,106, in addition to the $30 million.

“MBTA’s refusal to honor its contractual payment obligations has resulted in financial harm to Amtrak, which could potentially jeopardize Amtrak’s ability to provide rail service in Massachusetts,” Amtrak officials said in a filing this week. “Amtrak depends on timely payments from MBTA for services rendered to ensure its financial stability, fund its operations, and provide service to rail customers traveling to and from Massachusetts.”

Read more: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/08/26/amtrak-threatens-cut-boston-rail-service/fMPVGdu10xpIPDZ0uX5cKP/story.html