Passenger Trains > Amtrak Gulf Coast Service to Florida?

Lots of talk about the startup of service to Mobile.

Is there any talk of the extension of service all the way to Orlando etc.?
Has there been any hint that Amtrak may run "Thruway Bus" connecting service from Mobile to points in Florida?

I've been looking around but have not seen any mention of this anywhere.

I have not seen any mention of extending back to Florida. Amtrak is more focused on corridors right now and doesn't seem interested in long distance trains. Also, the former line across the Florida panhandle was sold by CSX to a regional railroad a few years ago. I'm not sure if they've maintained it for passenger speeds or if there would be any issues running across their line. 

Been discussed on a different board.. Part of the line is out of service, B/O bridge that needs replaced. Short line has also petitioned FRA to abandon signal system. Expect some the route to be abandoned... Looks like it's DOA, and Amtrak is surely relieved!

That is certainly grim news.  Who would have thought the line would disappear?  Seems likely.

One day everyone will stand around saying, "Why did we let that line get carved up?"



PC1974 Wrote:
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> Been discussed on a different board.. Part of the
> line is out of service, B/O bridge that needs
> replaced. Short line has also petitioned FRA to
> abandon signal system. Expect some the route to
> be abandoned... Looks like it's DOA, and Amtrak
> is surely relieved!

CSX recently removed, actually, "straightlined" the diamond at Baldwin, FL
for north/south movements at Baldwin yard, where they interchange with short-line
Florida, Gulf and Atlantic.  East/west movements across the diamond are eliminated.
Forget The Sunset ever returning to Florida. What Katrina did not destroy,
CSX & FGA now have !

What an unbelievable cock-up on the part of Amtrak.

Had Katrina not happened, or else if Amtrak had returned the SL after Katrina, I suspect they would have been in the same predicament as on the Fort Wayne Line or the various Indiana reroutes the Cardinal used to go through - get off or pay for it. 

restricted_speed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lots of talk about the startup of service to
> Mobile.
>
> Is there any talk of the extension of service all
> the way to Orlando etc.?
> Has there been any hint that Amtrak may run
> "Thruway Bus" connecting service from Mobile to
> points in Florida?
>
> I've been looking around but have not seen any
> mention of this anywhere.

Do you really think that "Amtrak Joe" would spend a dime that might favor DeSantis? 

RRBMail

You're blaming the wrong guy.  "Amtrak Joe" - i.e, . the President of the US - never has money to spend--only Congress has.

Amtrak is the one "Bulging with Billions". Gardner. et. el., could request the Billions necessary to extend trains to Florida if they wanted to.

but, it seems AMmanagement is only interested in cost cutting bonuses - and "Happy Talk" about new trains all,over the Country.

Corridor Joe is the one who appoints the Board and keeps Coscia in place, who rubberstamps Gardner. Gardner in turn puts incompetents under him so as not to be a threat to him. 

Connect US was never intended to morph into LD routes, but as a ponzi scheme to overcharge states and send the profits to the NEC. The Louisville-Nashville gap is deliberate. I don't get why Florida got into anyone's mind.  It is also diversionary happy-talk, which Magliari is now doing with Green Bay, never mind they struggle to run 7 trains a day to Milwaukee. 

President Biden and Governor DeSantis appeared twice to announce funding for repairs in Fort Myers and Naples.

The Governor was delighted to accept bundles of federal dollars.

Posted from Android

Sad about the old Panhandle route, but don't expect much even with this corridor startup either!

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/23 18:03 by ProAmtrak.

CPMorris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CSX recently removed, actually, "straightlined"
> the diamond at Baldwin, FL
> for north/south movements at Baldwin yard, where
> they interchange with short-line
> Florida, Gulf and Atlantic.  East/west movements
> across the diamond are eliminated.
> Forget The Sunset ever returning to Florida. What
> Katrina did not destroy,
> CSX & FGA now have !

A new diamond track panel was actually spotted near where the old diamond was removed just over a month ago. Not sure if it has already been reinstalled. 

New Amtrak routes have to be funded and selected by states (for routes under 750 miles) or the federal government (for routes over 750 miles) - full stop. Amtrak cannot start routes on its own initiative - Connects US was simply a suggestion of what Amtrak's management vision is - that's it - nothing more nothing less - simply a suggestion to policy makers on where it sees potential to try to get lawmakers to fund routes. Ultimately what the map looks like will depend on states and Congress/FRA. The real map - those that actually responded to the FRA's corridor ID program is closer to the potential reality as far as the services that are going to qualify for federal dollars. One can see that map here: https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/board-meetings/Amtrak-Public-Board-Meeting-120122.pdf . Projects needed to respond to that in order to qualify for the "Federal state intercity partnership" grants. The most feasible path forward for restoring service to the panhandle is via the long distance study. Florida DOT has basically said they are supportive of returning service to the panhandle but only if it's done via the long distance program with federal funding - they do not want to expend state funding on this route. They are also interested in Amtrak corridor service in Florida along the current CSX route - but municipal governments would need to take the lead on funding them if they want Amtrak service. So basically - if you want Sunset east (which hopefully won't be Sunset east but a standalone daytime route or an extension of the CONO) then participate in the LD study - and talk to your representatives/Senators about pushing for funding. If this was done as an extension of the CONO it would be one of the easier LD routes to get done as you may be able to accomplish it with the existing fleet. Other potential routes that have a lot of grassroots support will take longer due to needing expansion of the fleet.

Never say never (except for resuming service over the Saluda grade). But because of all the factors mentioned above, the likelihood of any passenger train Mobile-Jacksonville is 1 in a million. 

Heart breaking for a retired Locomotive Engineer who use to run out of Pensacola, Fl to hear what is happening to the former L&N/SCL across NW Florida. We had god business across there and a decent railroad. We had heard rumors CSX dumped it to keep from installing PTC. It was dark territory from Flomaton, Al to Tallahassee, Fl.

Steve