AMTRAK AND SOUTHERN RAIL COMMISSION TO HOST AN INSPECTION TRAIN ACROSS GULF COAST Fourteen locations in four states to have special stops CHICAGO -- Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) are conducting a tour to examine new ideas for intercity passenger rail by operating an Inspection Train from New Orleans to Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 18, and Friday, Feb. 19. The Inspection Train, hosted by Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman, will carry elected officials, industry representatives, community leaders and federal stakeholders. The goal of the invitation-only trip is to examine the existing CSX railroad infrastructure and to better understand rail’s economic, cultural and mobility opportunities. It will provide an unparalleled perspective on reintroducing intercity passenger rail along the Gulf Coast. The special train will be at each of these stations for 10 minutes before departing at the times below (all times local). Details can be found on the SRC website. Feb. 18: • Louisiana: New Orleans, 8:45 a.m. • Mississippi: Bay St. Louis, 10:20 a.m.; Gulfport, 11:00 a.m.; Biloxi, 11:31 a.m.; Pascagoula, 12:16 p.m. • Alabama: Mobile, 1:25 p.m.; Atmore, 2:41 p.m. Feb. 19: • Florida: Pensacola, 8:00 a.m.; Crestview, 9:20 a.m.; Chipley, 11:00 a.m.; Tallahassee, 2:47 p.m.; Madison, 4:24 p.m.; Lake City, 5:35 p.m.; arriving Jacksonville at 7:15 p.m. The SRC recently released a study by Amtrak detailing the range of feasible service options accompanied by an analysis of ridership levels, projected revenues, and associated costs for passenger trains between New Orleans and Orlando. The models in this new study present the range of service options that will support regional economic resilience and projected population growth. Better connections and financial performance has been projected in these models – with higher ridership and lower costs – than Amtrak services previously considered or operated in the region. The study can be found here. “We want to work with community leaders and CSX.” said Boardman. “Additional regional economic development can come from shared infrastructure investments on a timeline to better connect the region to the rest of the country and more than 500 other Amtrak destinations.” Connecting the cities and towns along the Gulf Coast with passenger rail is one of the top priority projects for the Southern Rail Commission. “The Southern Rail Commission is committed to working with local and federal partners, and Amtrak to make this service a reality in the near future,” said SRC Chairman Greg White. “We are continuing to align the necessary support for the project.” Note to News Media: Coverage is welcome at each of the stops. However, no space is available aboard the train due to limited seating. Media availabilities will be provided at each location.
From the Trains.com News Wire... Passenger rail commission sets inspection trip for Gulf Coast By Bob Johnston | January 26, 2016 RELATED TOPICS: AMTRAK | PASSENGER | INFRASTRUCTURE | SOUTH A CSX Transportation locomotive idles at Bay St. Louis, Miss., in 2014. This is one more than a dozen communities and station stops that might benefit from restored passenger service along the former eastern route of the Sunset Limited. Bob Johnston Gulf Coast inspection train scheduleNEW ORLEANS — Restoration of intercity passenger service along the Sunset Limited’s former route east of New Orleans is one step closer to reality now that an inspection trip is scheduled. On the trip, community leaders along the U.S. Gulf Coast will get a chance to see firsthand the scope of what strategic infrastructure investments any passenger route might need. The Southern Rail Commission is the lead advocacy group marshaling resources and public interest for the project. On Jan. 25, the commission and Amtrak jointly announced the scheduled station departure times of an inspection train from New Orleans to Pensacola, Fla., on Feb. 18, and from Pensacola to Jacksonville, Fla., the following day. In December, Amtrak released a study which outlined a number of options for restarting service that Amtrak has suspended since August 2005, following Hurricane Katrina. The Southern Rail Commission with its representatives from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, paid for the report. The group’s role has since been mandated by recently-passed surface transportation legislation. The alternative which Amtrak says will generate the most ridership and revenue, continuing the daily City of New Orleans to and from Orlando, Fla., and adding a separate round-trip between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., still needs to be vetted with host railroad CSX Transportation to determine infrastructure costs. The Southern Rail Commission has reached out to civic leaders in every community along the route to explain the project, and they have been invited aboard to ride between stops. Understanding what is required is especially critical for officials from the Florida Panhandle, where track conditions have rarely been as robust as trackage further east. With limited space and time for discussions, only invited guests will be allowed to ride the train. However, local media will be urged to cover the two-day event at all of the stations.
