by gokeefe
They are overplaying their hand. This is a former/existing route that was affected by a regional tragedy.
gokeefe
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Sen. @RogerWicker, Republicans embrace Amtrak rebirth on Gulf Coast
Greg Moore wrote:Cynically, "well, if you need it now, you need PTC, and well you have to pay for it." i.e. it's CSX's way of getting someone else to pay for the mandate.would PTC be required if Amtrak does not run on the line?
gokeefe wrote:Almost certainly "yes".From a foggy memory of a comment posted here some time back:
Moorman: Amtrak committed to reviving Gulf Coast service
Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Wick Moorman has pledged support for restoring service from New Orleans to Orlando, Fla., along the Gulf Coast.
Service along the corridor has been suspended since Hurricane Katrina hit the region in 2005.
In a March 3 letter to Southern Rail Commission (SRC) Chairman Greg White, Moorman emphasized Amtrak's "firm commitment to the Gulf Coast project," along with the railroad's interest and support for other projects underway in the region.
...
electricron wrote:I"m not sure if it'll be better as a stand alone train. But there's one thing for sure, there were not that many people wanting a one seat ride from Texas or California to Florida, hopefully there will be more demand for a one seat ride from Chicago and the Midwest to Florida.The Sunset Limited route was 769 rail miles ORL->NOL, as can be seen on page 96 of the April 2005 national timetable.
FYI: it's 546 highway miles from New Orleans to Jacksonville, and 147 rail miles from Jacksonville to Orlando. Total being 693 or so miles, so it's very likely a stand alone train will need state(s) subsidies, and with 4 states involved it'll be difficult to determine how that will be apportioned.