Unlike European National Rail systems .. Amtrak uses privatized Rail right of ways
they have to Borrow from the freight as a priority rail bed Owning Corporations.
so there are long delays while the several mile long trains of Coal and other commodities

move on the single track.. first.

sometimes in bad shape but
as long as the freight does not derail maintenance gets deferred.
so even when moving Amtrak has to slow down..