Ohio finally starts the process for new Amtrak service

[leccy]

Chicago - Columbus - Pittsburgh was derailed by hyperloop hype the last round. Let's hope that is dead and buried.

 

[JamesWhitcombRiley]

Chicago - Columbus - Pittsburgh was derailed by hyperloop hype the last round. Let's hope that is dead and buried.

Not one, but two hyperloops in the thing I quoted! Reminds me of the hype over the Foxconn plant in Wisconsin.

I was involved in applying for an economic development grant way back when. The projects range in quality, for sure. Every community that knows about them wants them. In our case, a very good dude I worked for was selling a good idea to a community for it to apply for as ED. The idea ended up getting swiped by another firm with political connections, and never came off.

But the examples here are higher level, driven by states.

I guess the FRA process worked and the hyperloops were weeded out?

 

[chadamfleetrailfan]

10TV (one of the local stations here in Columbus where I am) did a very content-rich news story on how passenger rail could impact Columbus by investigating how it impacts the Bloomington-Normal area.

With plans for passenger rail in Ohio, see how one midwest city capitalizes on it

I loved the tracked-down footage of the last Amtrak train seen in Ohio. I'm hoping that one day, we get past these "studies" and see actual progress starting to happen.

 

[dlagrua]

This video outlines Amtrak plans to extend mid-west service in Ohio. The map and presentation show some very positive things

 

[chadamfleetrailfan]

Not sure if these posts would be moved to the Ohio finally starts the process for new Amtrak service thread, but we appreciate the share @dlagrua ! As an Amtrak railfan in Columbus itself, I'm hopeful, but I know it's quite a long ways away.

 

[chadamfleetrailfan]

Another considered route to possibly head through Columbus...

Plans to restore Midwest, Fort Wayne passenger rail system chug along

 

[Maverickstation]

Here is an excellent article from Cleveland.com. What Ohio can learn from Michigan Amtrak Service.

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024...michigan-when-it-comes-to-amtrak-service.html

 

[chadamfleetrailfan]

Here is an excellent article from Cleveland.com. What Ohio can learn from Michigan Amtrak Service.

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024...michigan-when-it-comes-to-amtrak-service.html

I saw this article a few days ago and loved it.

TBH, when I want to head to Chicago via train, I always head up to the Ann Arbor station from here in Columbus. It's a 3-hour drive from me, and well worth it due to the CL and the LSL (from either Toledo, Cleveland, nor Elyria and Sandusky) not having the best scheduling options for when I want to do a weekend trip in Chicago.

Plus, I get the venture cars and charger too.

 

[BlackDiamond]

It seems none of the plans talk about what seems to me to be an obvious route: a daytime Cleveland - Chicago train which would also serve Toledo, Elkhart and South Bend as well as other towns, at a more reasonable time than the LSL or Capitol/Floridian. It would take about 6 hours. The drive is 5 hours and change nor considering traffic, so I think the train would be competitive considering 5+ hours and dealing with traffic vs sitting back relaxing for a little longer time.

 

[MARC Rider]

It seems none of the plans talk about what seems to me to be an obvious route: a daytime Cleveland - Chicago train which would also serve Toledo, Elkhart and South Bend as well as other towns, at a more reasonable time than the LSL or Capitol/Floridian. It would take about 6 hours. The drive is 5 hours and change nor considering traffic, so I think the train would be competitive considering 5+ hours and dealing with traffic vs sitting back relaxing for a little longer time.

You're not the first one to think of this.

https://www.hsrail.org/lakeshore-corridor/