Wednesday, 08/30/06 From the Tennessean Rail tickets, passes on sale next week Music City Star will make first run on Sept. 18 By TRAVIS LOLLER Staff Writer Tickets for the Music City Star will be available online starting next week, and commuters who hope to purchase monthly passes should act soon to receive them before the commuter rail's Sept. 18 inaugural run. "We're really excited to get the service out there," project manager Allyson Shumate said. "I think a lot of people are going to like it." To purchase tickets: • Monthly passes will be available next week online at www.nashvillemta.org. • Mt. Juliet City Hall, at 2425 N. Mt. Juliet Road, is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for trains leaving the Mt. Juliet station are available now at the reception desk for cash, check or money order. • Lebanon City Hall, at 200 Castle Heights Ave. N., is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets for trains leaving the Lebanon and Martha stations will be available next week for cash, check or money order. • Tickets will not be sold on the trains, but they will be available on the platforms once service begins. Trains stop at downtown Nashville's Riverfront Park, where they will be met by free shuttles that will carry commuters on a downtown loop that includes the bus transfer station or to Vanderbilt University. Each Music City Star ticket includes the cost of a connection to MTA buses. For schedules, go to www.musiccitystar.com or phone 862-8833. Prices : One way at the Platform, $5.00 Lebanon: $5.00 Pre-Purchased $45 10-ride, $168 month pass Martha: $4.75 $43 $160 Mt Juliet: $4.50 $41 $151 Hermitage:$4.25 $38 $143 Donelson: $4.00 $36 $134 Y'all come ride our new train!!!
The Music City Star website posted has some pictures of stations & equipment. THe F40's are ex-Amtrak. THe Cars are ex-C&NW gallery cars. THe most obious difference is the blue stripe paint scheme with a blue star forming part of the A in star. THe interior looks to be the same rugged leather seating from the 60's. ADA compliance comes from removing 2 rows of seats just inside from the center doors. A steel plate provides a ramp from the platform into the high floor. It appears initial service will be provided by a 2 car Cab/coach combo traipowered by the F40's. There ought to be plenty of power for the track speed of 60mph. THe Nashville & Eastern generally runs 30mph freight on parts of the line. Thomas is paying a visit this weekend. Hope to get some pix.
Pics are up on Railpictures.net personally in this day and age it is a pretty bland and not a very visible paint scheme. also check: http://www.sitemason.com/gallery/aWoWm4?id=23967&filter_category=Locomotive Brad
