Home
»
Trains Magazine
»
Forums
»
General Discussion
»
Amttrak to Assist in Katrina Evacuations?

Edit topic

Updated your discussion topic below.

Subject
Enter a subject for your topic. Maximum 150 characters.
Post Body
Enter your post below.
Amtrak lines could be used to evacuate NO residents By Sylvain Metz smetz@clarionledger.com MERIDIAN — An evacuation plan via Amtrak train for New Orleans residents trapped by Hurricane Katrina's devastation and floodwaters is being worked out by Amtrak president David Gunn, Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith said today. Smith, who is former Amtrak chairman, said the plan also would possibly use three national freight lines to evacuate New Orleans residents. If the plan can be worked out, New Orleans residents trapped by the storm could be evacuated to the west by lines operated by Union Pacific Railroad and Canadian National-Illinois Central Railroad - or to the north by freight lines operated by Norfolk Southern Railroad. Gunn also is considering using Amtrak's Crescent line from New York to New Orleans. That line is clear to Slidell, La., Smith said, but Amtrak officials will have to evaluate the bridge just south of Slidell over Lake Pontchartrain, Smith said. Smith said he's discussed Gunn's plan this morning with U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Bill Gottshall, chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss. Smith said they will present the plan to Federal Emergency Management Agency officials through the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Amtrak spokesmen said Wednesday there is no formal plan to use its trains to evacuate Katrina's victims from New Orleans. "I can't confirm personal conversations between a current Amtrak president and a former Amtrak president," said Amtrak spokeswoman Marci Golgoski. From Jackson Clarion Ledger
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag
E-mail Subscribe
Check the box below if you want to receive e-mail notifications when replies are made to this thread.

Receive notifications