Here is the long ago proposal which is not for public release (heh-heh), it has morphed since then to be three other alternative or else confusion based on this one.
1. Dedicated train to Merdian with cross platform transfer.
2. Dedicated train to Atlanta with cross platform transfer.
3. Extension of Crescent outlined below.
They are doing yet another study on this so who knows what they will end up with for a final proposal. All that is definite is they seem to want a Fort Worth to Merdian, MS train. Interestingly in the below proposal it changes the entire timetable of the Crescent NYC to NO to accomodate the new section. Also note the new section was proposed to have it's own dining car and sleeping car service.
https://irp.cdn-website.com/be785d40/files/uploaded/Feasibility%20Study.pdf
BTW. Side note here: I remember predicting the below and got scoffed at by a few and this will probably get some skeptism as well (OK by me). Massive change in our country with IT. AI is just now starting to hit GDP and then Quantum Computing will hit a little later. The entire US Federal Government is moving to Cloud and AI and it was in the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) funding wise. Dramatic impact I am seeing in the future with implementations of both (I am employed with an employer that is applying both right now). I think the scenario below is probably not really exact but also not far off the mark. The impact I think on Amtrak will be reflected in a few more LD trains definitely more corridor trains. Because with the below there is also a massive Baby Boom entering retirement which will also see their income increase. So this is how the below link is relative to Amtrak and trains in general. Increased spending income in that short of time with the advanced age cohorts will impact Amtrak positively me thinks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQkLr3TTrJY
Feasibility Study.pdf (cdn-website.com)
Have often said that the schedules shown in alternative #3. It has some important features. The departure time of 1415h enables anyone from NY state to ride train 280 and make connections for stations from Lynchburg south that the 2 other alternatives would not allow.
More importantly the departure time northbound from ATL will increase the numbr of riders from there that has been declining ever since Amtrak changed the NOL departure times. Also arriving northbound at ATL at a decent time will increase riders from south of ATL to ride to ATL which has also declined.
As well persons traveling from the new service need a decent arrival time in ATL.
It is a sad state when ATL cannot have as many O&Ds that TPA has/
blue streak 1It is a sad state when ATL cannot have as many O&Ds that TPA has/
I suspect they realize this and this is one reason they are fixing Atlanta. They are going to relo the passenger station downtown for starters and abandon PeachTree Station. You haven't heard of that plan yet? They want to make it a hub from what I read. I think it was on FB and about 70% of the railfans totally misread the article which was kind of humorous but not surprising.
The political situation in Georgia is not as open to a new Amtrak station as may appear in the press. However I will admit if future proves many of us wrong. One comment that was not made about the DFW to Meridian joining alternate #3 is the problem of NS work ATL - NOL every Jan and FEB on Monday - Thursdays. Some how and alternnate schedule where Crescent can travel the NOL - ATL section at night will have to be implemented?
blue streak 1The political situation in Georgia is not as open to a new Amtrak station as may appear in the press.
Thats only temporary. When I was younger it was against the Wisconsin Constitution to subsidize rail anything, we have a state DOT Secretary that was openly hostile to anything rail. It all changed within 10 years. Things moved glacially slow after that but look at the state today in regards to Amtrak and WSOR.
I heard similar on NO to Mobile service but Amtrak says likely it will be up and running by Thanksgiving (time will tell because Amtrak has a tendency to be overly optimistic).
The local political situation in Atlanta does not matter at the moment if they continue with the framework because the framework has to be done and the political situation is only relevant when it comes time to actually fund construction of the building. So if Amtrak gets the site it is a big step to a yes in the future to a new station.
I continue to think that the only real operating 'solution' here is to combine the trains (perhaps using a form of DPU control) at Meridian, operate as 'one long protected consist' (still shorter than a typical freight in the Atlanta area), then have a 'hostling' crew available at the end of the arrival platform to uncouple the rear "section" and pull it into an adjacent track. Do cross-platform transfers at Atlanta instead of Meridian, and have controlled access either to 'one' consist or both at separate locations for any stops between Meridian and Atlanta.
Re-form the train into a long single consist to get out of the Atlanta area with minimum impact. At some point north and east, probably the next logical crew change point, you can have a separate road crew ready to take the 'rear section' and run it as a separate train... perhaps serving different communities en route to give them the 'local' service mentioned previously.
I propose we give it the working title of "Crescent Anywhere" for the common working portion. Whatever name the Dallas to Meridian train gets, ends at Meridian, and the train that is 'separated' should have its own appropriate regional name...
OvermodI propose we give it the working title of "Crescent Anywhere" for the common working portion. Whatever name the Dallas to Meridian train gets, ends at Meridian, and the train that is 'separated' should have its own appropriate regional name...
Yeah they are all over the place with the proposal.
The Heartland Flyer extension proposal is more detailed and actually ran a test train so I tend to believe that proposal will come through before the Crescent extension because it is further along.
I hope Amtrak and the powers that be come up with something intelligent here because the folks in Dallas and Fort Worth will be watching and if it is a total flop, thats probably the end of anymore Amtrak expansions in Texas. I give the Crescent extension higher probability than Dallas to Houston.
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