A recent 133-page report from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Amtrak Long- Distance Service Study: Report to Congress, outlines the potential for expanding passenger rail across the country. Among all the proposals, one route stood out. The suggested line from Houston to New York City received the highest preliminary score of 14 out of 15. That route passes directly through Knoxville.

The proposed corridor would link Houston, New Orleans, Montgomery, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Roanoke, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. In short, Knoxville would once again be connected to the rest of the country by rail.

IT’S TIME TO BRING PASSENGER RAIL BACK TO EAST TENNESSEE