Amtrak, Southern Rail Commission to host Gulf Coast inspection train

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
image description
An Amtrak southbound City of New Orleans arriving into Jackson, Miss. One option to return and expand intercity rail along the Gulf Coast would extend this route beyond New Orleans to Orlando, Fla.

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, La., to Jacksonville, Fla., on Feb. 18 and 19.

 

The inspection train, hosted by Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Boardman, will carry elected officials, industry representatives, community leaders and federal stakeholders. The goal of the 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 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, Fla.. 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.

“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 SRC.

“The SRC 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.”

 

Tags: