Crescent discussion 2025

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I’m guessing the “express” will operate via Montgomery instead of Birmingham…
I have driven both ways and find that Montgomery is much easier and quicker. Traffic can be bad ATL - past BHM. Traffic Lagrange Ga - ATL is also congested at times. Big problem is both routes from downtown I-20 = I-85 intersection in ATL - Amtrak station can be a problem however the late ATL arrival does not often slow vehicle traffic although southbound can be a problem even at 1000h.
 
I have driven both ways and find that Montgomery is much easier and quicker. Traffic can be bad ATL - past BHM. Traffic Lagrange Ga - ATL is also congested at times. Big problem is both routes from downtown I-20 = I-85 intersection in ATL - Amtrak station can be a problem however the late ATL arrival does not often slow vehicle traffic although southbound can be a problem even at 1000h.
Thanks so much for the information. I'm hoping Amtrak has figured out the least congested route, especially since we are the express.
 
Thanks so much for the information. I'm hoping Amtrak has figured out the least congested route, especially since we are the express.
If running with no passenger stops in between, it is pretty much the driver’s choice on routing, unless the carrier tells the driver to take the same route as the local, in case of breakdown protection…
 
If running with no passenger stops in between, it is pretty much the driver’s choice on routing, unless the carrier tells the driver to take the same route as the local, in case of breakdown protection…
As they say..."We shall see." Again, thank you for the information. It wil make the trip more enjoyable wondering how the driver will l get from NOL to ATL I might just ask the driver how they decide their route and give the Forum an update.
 
If running with no passenger stops in between, it is pretty much the driver’s choice on routing, unless the carrier tells the driver to take the same route as the local, in case of breakdown protection…
When I was with the Gray Line of Portland, I rarely had to tell operators which route to take. The in-town patterns paid hourly tended to get repeated over and over. The longer runs paid by the mile, so the fastest route tended to be the one to take. That should be the case for NOL<>ATL.

Exceptions were very new drivers, road construction, or in the case of Colorado, when mountains fall on the highway.
 
When I rode the bustitution in 2023, the express bus had an intermediate stop in Tuscaloosa (but nobody happened to get on or off, so we kind of wasted 15 minutes getting on and off the highway). We also stopped at University Mall in Tuscaloosa for lunch.

No idea how they do it now.
 
When I rode the bustitution in 2023, the express bus had an intermediate stop in Tuscaloosa (but nobody happened to get on or off, so we kind of wasted 15 minutes getting on and off the highway). We also stopped at University Mall in Tuscaloosa for lunch.

No idea how they do it now.
I'll let you know what route and stops they make soon after February 20th.
 
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