Is the Dallas-Miami proposal a real thing?

[iliketrains]

I saw this on YouTube about a possible Dallas-Miami route. Is this something that can happen?

 

[TRA_Thom]

I saw this on YouTube about a possible Dallas-Miami route. Is this something that can happen?

I have a strong suspicion that significant parts of this channel’s production process involve AI. I personally don’t know whether a Dallas-Miami route is in the cards. But I have noticed this account seems to screen through Amtrak and FRA documents to find the smallest details to them present as “breaking Amtrak news.”

 

[GaSteve]

I wouldn't buy a ticket yet if I were you. This is pure smoke.

 

[George Harris]

Much as I would like to see this service, my basic thought is, "when pigs fly." Note that the terrain and scenery views were almost, if not all Western US, and none in the sort of terrain through the train would operate. If the people putting this little blurb together had any serious thought they would have at least gotten the background views to be appropriate. The sort of money mentioned to make this train happen could be much more beneficial in other locations., and that is not even considering that the amount is likely significantly low balled. Due to such things as doglegs in the rail route, and no real high speed segments likely, the train time would be excruciatingly slow compared to reasonable driving time.

 

[Qapla]

It Dallas to Miami "possible" ... sure - is it "probable" ... No!

 

[dlagrua]

AI is all over the place spreading erroneous information. On You Tube the poster gets paid by the number of clicks/views. Come up with something odd and people will read it. I believe that this is called 'clickbait".

 

[west point]

The proposed route has to deal with the Pensacola loop around that is worth almost an hour to transit. Then Pensacola - Balwin Fl would need PTC and some signaling PNS - Tallahassee. Way too expensive. A better route may be Mobile - Montgomery - Bow line to JAX. Maybe by time these destinations are considered the route could be DFW - MEI - Myrtlewood route to Montgomery and on. That route is more likely to get CTC than the Pensacola route. But much of the Myrtlewood route is still shown as 10 MPH MAX

 

[MARC Rider]

Actually, it might not be all that off-base, considered that the FRA long-distance Service study has Dallas - Miami as one of the "selected preferred route options." However, in an era of limited funding, I wouldn't make it one of my top priorities. My long-distance service priorities would be:


Resources to ensure that all current long-distance trains run close to schedule and minimize cancellations and restore traditional dining
Better management of on-board service to ensure a more consistent high-quality product (eliminate drill-sergeant LSAs), hire on-board service supervisors
Daily Sunset and Cardinal
Multiple trains on the Lake Shore Limited Route to enable better calling times in Ohio
Direct service NYP -Chicago via Philly, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh
Service into the interior southeast (Louisville/Nashville)

Of course, even this limited list would be a real fiscal stretch, involving spending on lots of new rolling stock and making deals with host railroads.

 

[George Harris]

MARC: At least someone else is thinking about multiple New York - Chicago trains. All ways wondered why the old New York Central did not put on a City of New Orleans like day train between those two cities. Yeah, the time zone issue would make the eastbound very early leaving to get a pre-midnight arrival in NYC. Suspect that by making their premier trains night trains they did not have to worry about clearing maintenance to pass a priority day train. Regardless, this route, with its fairly large intermediate cities, cries out for some speed up and four trains each way: something like the current Lake Shore, early morning arrivals on both ends, late evening departures on both ends and a "day" train. Something similar on the old Pennsylvania Railroad route should also be considered, maybe with a split/combine at Cleveland for the western portion. Oops, I have gotten well off topic.

Now, back to the subject: If you want to be realistic about Dallas - Florida, serious money would be required for track and signal work regardless of route. Yes, Flomaton - Pensacola - Tallahassee would need signals, but possibly not as much true trackwork as might be thought. Right after SCL took in L&N considerable work was done on this line including major relay of rail and CTC "islands" at some of the sidings, although these have probably been taken out. As to bridge work, the biggie, the Escambia Bay bridge east of Pensacola wood trestle and draw span was replaced with a high level concrete structure. Don't know what else was done. As to going east from Dallas to Meridian then Montgomery AL, all the Meridian - Montgomery section has never been anything but an end to end trio of slow speed low traffic branch line. Major work here, almost certainly requiring some significant bridge work. East of Montgomery, the old South Wind / Floridian route would probably be better, but here again much work to get speed up and add signals. At least at Bainbridge GA, a right turn to go to Tallahassee could be done instead of going to Waycross GA before turning south. I am inclined to say the route shown is the best of the bad. It does give Dallas to Baton Rouge to New Orleans service, but by which route Shreveport to Baton Rouge? Two possibilities, the KCS which has never been signalled or UP's T&P-GCL combination.