It is bizarre that we continue to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into roads, yet don't have a rail line across the state.

I assume this is in one of those reports (too lazy to look it up): did the study estimate a gasoline/diesel cost point at which a cross state rail service could compete with road traffic? In other words, at what point would gas prices have to be before people considered rail travel as a viable economic alternative to driving?

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Rather than drive 12 hours to South Ms recently, I drove to Memphis with a passenger, left my car and took the City of New Orleans south. The base fare was $40 each way - about the cost of a tank of gas. I upgraded to a roomette which had an outlet for my computer and included meals in the dining car! I was able to work the whole way in privacy and had Braised Lamb Shank for dinner!

I would love to see passenger service: Atlanta/Knoxville/Chicago AND Knoxville/Nashville/Memphis.

Maybe the increased use of rails for freight (and upgraded tracks) will lead to more passenger service.

Have you seen the new CSX ad? A fuel-efficient automobile is shown on a rail auto carrier and the announcer tells us that it gets over 400 MPG - while it is riding the train.

Wearybottom Associates

I think folks are a little surprised to see Trent Lott co-sponsoring the current rail bill

Actually, in spite of his almost sub-human sliminess on most social issues, Trent Lott has always been a reliable and steadfast supporter of Amtrak. As much as it pains me to give him credit for anything.

I dunno where you were going in S. Miss but it seems more direct to drive to Birmingham to catch the train. That way you get a stopover in new Orleans :-).

Of course, who am I to chide anyone about direct routes. I drove to Beckley WV to ride to Washington DC. Riding the train is just that much fun. And cheap too. Though it's cheaper to get on in WV than in Clifton Forge, Va. Must have something to do with subsidies.

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Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

Amtrak doesn't allow pets. Leaves me out on most travel.

Animals Onboard
We allow trained service animals accompanying passengers with disabilities in all customer areas in our stations, trains and Amtrak Thruway motorcoaches.
Trained service animals must be kept under the control of their owners or trainers at all times.
We permit no other animals onboard at any time.

They really need to change their policy. I can get pupster on an airplane but not a train. That sounds backwards.

drive to Birmingham to catch the train

Short drive to Atlanta.

Chooo chooo...when I lived in Mexico I used the train system all the time and it was so cheap and convenient. I was very disappointed to know we don't have any train conections here and you have to go someplace else to catch a through flight to many major cities. To me it's the one big flaw in my choice of cities to relocate to. I like flying without stopvers, and I love riding the train.

As for pups, I can't see why they couldn't let dogs on for short rides. I guess pooping would be a problem, if it was too long a trip.

Yabbut the train leaves Atlanta at 8:30 a.m. and leaves Birmingham at 12 noon, so you can get up at a reasonable hour and still make the train (especially since it is probably running late).

If I had it to do over again I'd catch the train in Tuscaloosa or maybe Anniston, free parking and all that.
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Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

We have that huge depot at the end of downtown that could be rehabilitated and once again serve with distinction as part of a passenger rail service to Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga, Asheville, Memphis, or Lexington. You name it, you CAN get there from here...Knoxville is almost perfectly situated for passenger rail service to most of the eastern half of the country. And if the PTB would get off their duffs and do just a smidgen of research, they would find out that trains are much more fuel efficient than cars or other forms of transport. People could put their car on an automobile car and ride the train to vacation spots, where they would then have their own cars to drive around in until they were ready to come home and reverse the whole trip back on the train. Less people trying to make good time on the road by driving far too long, less accidents, less gas used, more relaxed and happy folks arriving at their vacation destinations safely and efficiently...not a whole lot of losers there.

But it would all make too much sense for politicians to get behind in a big way.

_________________________________________________
"You can't fix stupid..." ~ Ron White"
"I never said I wasn't a brat..." ~ Talidapali

If I read the Amtrak site correctly, it costs several hundred dollars to haul a car. It seems you'd be better off renting a car for a few days.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

As has been said before in other threads, you don't always need a car at your destination.

Trips we've taken to to DC, Atlantic City, NYC, Anaheim, Las Vegas, and others, no car was needed. Visited San Francisco, wish we had no car. In New Orleans, you really don't need a car.

There may be occasion for car trips at any destination. A one day rental may do the job.

That's what I was thinking. I was also wondering about franchises. Sounds like a pretty high-tech, insurance complicated, customer service intensive business though, that would take some serious investment to get up and going. Their managment team has pretty impressive resumes.

Gas is now three dollars a gallon, and expected to go higher. I'm ready to share the cost of passenger trains and buses in this area.

Anybody know who to write to to ask for passenger service to Knoxville? Congress? John Duncan?

Comments/ideas from readers of the Parade article:

"Rep. James Oberstar (D., Minn.), heads the House transportation and infrastructure committee."
"The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) has proposed a "Grid and Gateway Plan" that would provide nationwide passenger train service with the same connectivity that the Interstate Highway system provides for automobile travelers."
"Train service is unlikely to be a top issue in the 2008 Presidential election, but maybe it should be mentioned."

A county that not only increased their taxes but nearly ten years later voted to keep the tax. What's wrong with those people? They don't support our president.

How is the commuter rail system in Nashville faring? They don't appear to update their website very often.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

From my understanding the Music City Star's ridership projections were not met, but it doesn't seem like the sky is falling. The first leg of the project was completed in the most cost-efficient way possible by using existing freight rail lines, used train stock from Chicago, extrememly limited scheduling to start off with and just the one route to date with more corridors planned for the future.

I could certainly see a commuter train working in Knoxville as well. If I remember correctly, the Farragut to Knoxville KAT route is one of the more heavily used routes and so it would make sense to me that the currently existing rail line that terminates conveniently enough at the Depot, cuts right through Farragut around Concord Park. Additional "Park and Ride" stops could be along Westland Drive, around Cherokee Country Club, Sutherland Ave, Tyson Park and finally the Depot. Furthermore, it could also continue further East almost to Knoxville Center. It is truly a shame that the 'transit center' was not built on Jackson Avenue to take advantage of rail lines that currently exist.

This article from the Business Tennessee Magazine discusses the idea of building commerce around the Star's stations...
(link...)

"Maglev stands for magnetic levitation."

"Using all-electric power"

"This allows for contact-free travel, excellent acceleration rates, and cruising speeds of 250 to 300 miles per hour."

"The Enterprise Center, Inc. of Chattanooga is conducting the Chattanooga to Nashville Maglev Feasibility Study."

"Currently, a wide corridor between Chattanooga and Nashville is under consideration for the actual location of the maglev route. At this phase of the study, possibilities along I-24, US-41, and along the existing CSX railway tracks are under consideration"

(link...)

This makes the $1 billion Orange route look 19th century and a weak 'bang for the buck'