Amtrak Sunset East Reactivation Proposal (Including City of New Orleans Extension)

[lordsigma12345]

I see what you're saying. Here's a thought: perhaps if they instituted a bus on the Panhandle, and if the bus became so popular that a train would be needed [as in Roanoke], that would be a scary thought to Amtrak. They appear to have no interest whatsoever in running a long distance train east of New Orleans.

I think they'd be happy to run a train the whole route if the states subsidized it. Although the 750 mile rule means state subsidies are not required, nothing says that states can't subsidize a 750 or slightly longer route if the federal government won't. With state support, I dont think Amtrak would care about the distance - state subsidies are "revenue" on Amtrak's books which is why Amtrak likes them.

[gokeefe]

It's a really interesting point regardless. And brings out the very interesting fact that a Thruway bus is not subject to the 750 mile minimum for federally operated service.

[Station Aficionado]

Remember, it’s 200 miles from Pensacola to Tallahassee on I-10, with no significant intermediate traffic generators. Ridership on the pre-Katrina Sunset East was ... er ... not robust.

[lordsigma12345]

https://www.wjtv.com/news/mobile-to-dec ... coast/amp/

Important decisions coming...... City of Mobile has to agree to fund Alabama’s portion of NOL - MOB in order for this to take off.

No movement on the eastern (Mobile - Orlando) side of things. The original plan had one of the round trips going beyond Mobile to ORL, but that died with Governor Ivey’s opposition to the project. Any extension beyond Mobile is dead as long as she is in office. Nothing will change on that front unless a new administration in Alabama more open to passenger rail comes around along with state support in Florida.

[gokeefe]

Interesting to see the municipal officials grinding it out with their state government. I will not be surprised if Mobile ultimately wins out. Municipal governments are very hard to ignore.

[eolesen]

Having service NOL-GPT-MOB makes sense. There's a lot of population density in that 145 mile corridor.

If that gets off the ground, extending another 50 miles to PNS might be feasible. East of that, though, and you're in a population desert for another 200 miles...

[electricron]

Interesting to see the municipal officials grinding it out with their state government. I will not be surprised if Mobile ultimately wins out. Municipal governments are very hard to ignore.

Not that easy when Mobile is just 8.5% of the entire state's population.
Per wiki, as always:
Alabama 4,887,871
Mobile 413,955
Math = 413,955 / 4,887,871 x 100 = 8.47%

Alabama is reality poor, with a yearly budget totaling $32 billion, $6,547 per capita.
Mobile's budget is even less, with a yearly budget totaling $260 million, $628 per capita.

[eolesen]

Mobile including exurbs is closer to ~595,000 and 12% of the estimated state population.

Making the argument to get $3-5M in transportation related funding should be a no-brainer, especially if it can help feed the growing cruise business, or better yet, get paid for by the cruise companies or funded by a port tax.

[mtuandrew]

Mobile including exurbs is closer to ~595,000 and 12% of the estimated state population.

Making the argument to get $3-5M in transportation related funding should be a no-brainer, especially if it can help feed the growing cruise business, or better yet, get paid for by the cruise companies or funded by a port tax.

Then we should be considering a corridor from New Orleans to Mobile, then to Montgomery and Birmingham, and possibly to Atlanta. That has to be at least 70% of the state’s population and two of the largest out-of-state destinations.

[lordsigma12345]

City of Mobile delayed the vote. All signs are that this corridor is dead if City does not put up the funding.

[bostontrainguy]

Mobile including exurbs is closer to ~595,000 and 12% of the estimated state population.

Making the argument to get $3-5M in transportation related funding should be a no-brainer, especially if it can help feed the growing cruise business, or better yet, get paid for by the cruise companies or funded by a port tax.

Then we should be considering a corridor from New Orleans to Mobile, then to Montgomery and Birmingham, and possibly to Atlanta. That has to be at least 70% of the state’s population and two of the largest out-of-state destinations.

Would that be a better route for the Crescent?

[east point]

Then we should be considering a corridor from New Orleans to Mobile, then to Montgomery and Birmingham, and possibly to Atlanta. That has to be at least 70% of the state’s population and two of the largest out-of-state destinations.

Would that be a better route for the Crescent?
[/quote]

No. But if that could be a split off at BHM such as the Builder at Spokane. Then that would be very good/ As well additional tracks can be added at BHM station to switch cars and not be on the main track

[mtuandrew]

Would that be a better route for the Crescent?

No. But if that could be a split off at BHM such as the Builder at Spokane. Then that would be very good/ As well additional tracks can be added at BHM station to switch cars and not be on the main track

I’m not sure that’s the best idea - a stand-alone train would probably work better, so there’s no awkward split/join/handoff between NS and CSX. The Empire Builder split occurs within the BNSF system; the handoff at MSP between CP and BNSF doesn’t involve additional sections from elsewhere. Same for the Lake Shore Limited ALB split/join on Amtrak rails and handoff at CLE between NS and CSX.

[Station Aficionado]

Wasn’t the Amtrak Gulf Breeze split off the Crescent at Birmingham? Were there problems with that handoff?

[David Benton]

From memory the only problem was the state stopped paying for it.