Proposals for Restored Gulf Coast Service

[Don Newcomb]

Gulfport and Biloxi have high hopes that Amtrak will bring lots of fresh pigeons to their casinos.

 

[neroden]

The FRA announcement states that 11 communities will share a $2 million grant to make station facility improvements.

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/FRA-allocates-funds-for-Amtrak-Gulf-Coast-service--50433

To me the news is that almost $400,000 is going to Baton Rouge (and Gonzales and St John Parish, which lie between Baton Rouge and New Orleans).
There's been beaucoup studies about adding passenger trains or light rail to this busy industrialized stretch of the Mississippi. In favor, obviously, Greater Baton Rouge with roughly 600,000 citizens is only 80 miles from New Orleans, with its 1,250,000 metro area. Working against it, the usual: no money, no equipment, current rail system crowded with freights, Louisiana's corrupt and disfunctional politics.

Given the notorious attitude of CN towards passenger service, this may require buying the tail end of the CN corridor from Orleans Junction (where KCT merges in) until it terminates at the New Orleans Public Belt railway. Or rebuilding the former KCS route through this part of Metairie which is currently empty (though amazingly nobody has built on top of it).
Worth noting: A New Orleans Airport station is possible and proposed along the route.

 

[jis]

Proposed location for future Mobile AL station:

https://www.facebook.com/cityofmobile/photos/a.481796593769.263086.91505048769/10154877854393770/?type=3&theater

 

[Ryan]

Nice! Just a block from the hotel I always stay in. Wonder if I'll still be working the program when the trains start running...

 

[WoodyinNYC]

The FRA announcement states that 11 communities will share a $2 million grant to make station facility improvements.

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/FRA-allocates-funds-for-Amtrak-Gulf-Coast-service--50433

The news is that almost $400,000 is going to Baton Rouge (and Gonzales and St John Parish, which lie between Baton Rouge and New Orleans).

There's been beaucoup studies about adding passenger trains or light rail to this busy industrialized stretch of the Mississippi. In favor, obviously, Greater Baton Rouge with roughly 600,000 citizens is only 80 miles from New Orleans, with its 1,250,000 metro area.

Baton Rouge would nicely extend the proposed New Orleans-Biloxi-Pascagoula-Mobile corridor service.

Baton Rouge has two large casinos of its own.

What the city lacks -- what the entire state of Louisiana lacks -- is a beach. The Mississippi coast enjoys a beautiful beach, built and maintained by the (Army Corps of Engineers) federal government!

 

[Don Newcomb]

Just an aside. When Amtrak runs an "inspection train" full of VIP's, like they did here a few months ago, who crews the train? I mean what would the usual engineer do if a US Senator said he wanted to bring the train into station? This is what happened in Gulfport. I'd imagine if it were a regular Amtrak crew (part friendly and helpful, part surly, just serving out the time waiting for retirement) that Amtrak would find their budget cut to zero during the next session. They must have a group of crew members who are specially selected for their ability to be nice to Senators, Governors and the like.

 

[jis]

I have not met a surly crew even on the Autumn Special, and I am thankfully quite far from being a slimey Congresscritter. So I am sure it is not hard for them to find such volunteers.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Amtrak always makes sure that the "Best of the Best" crew such Specials.

And the Amtrak Suits that go along on such trips are all very practiced Diplomats and VIP handlers.

No Chicago attitudes allowed!

 

[LookingGlassTie]

I understand that a restored Amtrak route along the Gulf Coast is in the works (following the destruction from Katrina).

Two questions:

1. Will that new route be named "Gulf Coast" or something else?

2. Will the route run from New Orleans to Miami (as the Sunset Limited used to do), or will there be different endpoints for it?

Thanks!

 

[pennyk]

MODERATOR NOTE: a new thread was merged with the existing thread on the same topic.

 

[brianpmcdonnell17]

I understand that a restored Amtrak route along the Gulf Coast is in the works (following the destruction from Katrina).

Two questions:

1. Will that new route be named "Gulf Coast" or something else?

2. Will the route run from New Orleans to Miami (as the Sunset Limited used to do), or will there be different endpoints for it?

Thanks!

1. The train will likely be an extension of the City of New Orleans. If it is not I do not believe that the name is known yet.

2. The Western/Northern endpoint will be either New Orleans or Chicago and the Eastern/Southern endpoint will be either Mobile or Orlando.

 

[LookingGlassTie]

Oops I forgot there was already a thread started about this!

 

[Don Newcomb]

An item in the local news: http://www.wlox.com/clip/13117521/push-continues-to-bring-amtrak-to-the-coast

 

[dlagrua]

After Katrina hit CSX repaired the route fairly quickly. In a matter of weeks (or was it months) that freight trains were rolling again. I find it odd that once Amtrak train service is discontinued it takes years and millions of dollars to get it started again. We will no doubt have gulf state service again but my estimate is in 2025..

 

[CCC1007]

After Katrina hit CSX repaired the route fairly quickly. In a matter of weeks (or was it months) that freight trains were rolling again. I find it odd that once Amtrak train service is discontinued it takes years and millions of dollars to get it started again. We will no doubt have gulf state service again but my estimate is in 2025..

Could the secret have something to do with the missing station buildings?

 

[Palmetto]

I suppose it could be, but there are multiple stops where there is no building to go into. So why would this route be any different, after the platforms were spruced up after the storm?

 

[Don Newcomb]

After Katrina hit CSX repaired the route fairly quickly. In a matter of weeks (or was it months) that freight trains were rolling again. I find it odd that once Amtrak train service is discontinued it takes years and millions of dollars to get it started again. We will no doubt have gulf state service again but my estimate is in 2025..

Could the secret have something to do with the missing station buildings?

No. The buildings were pretty much in tact. I think Pass Christian's platform was messed up but they aren't even talking about stopping there this time. I think the problem was Amtrak. They simply didn't want to run this route. The station in Gulfport was and is fine. The old platform in Biloxi is still in the same spot. They just want to move it to align with their new transportation center. Nothing much changed in Pascagoula.

 

[CCC1007]

After Katrina hit CSX repaired the route fairly quickly. In a matter of weeks (or was it months) that freight trains were rolling again. I find it odd that once Amtrak train service is discontinued it takes years and millions of dollars to get it started again. We will no doubt have gulf state service again but my estimate is in 2025..

Could the secret have something to do with the missing station buildings?

No. The buildings were pretty much in tact. I think Pass Christian's platform was messed up but they aren't even talking about stopping there this time. I think the problem was Amtrak. They simply didn't want to run this route. The station in Gulfport was and is fine. The old platform in Biloxi is still in the same spot. They just want to move it to align with their new transportation center. Nothing much changed in Pascagoula.

Articles in Trains Magazine from the period indicated that eleven station buildings were demolished or severely damaged by the hurricanes in 2005. Were those reports false?

 

[Don Newcomb]

Articles in Trains Magazine from the period indicated that eleven station buildings were demolished or severely damaged by the hurricanes in 2005. Were those reports false?

The Bay St. Louis station may have suffered some damage but it's still there. Pass Christian was just a platform with no station. Gulfport station is still exactly where it ever was. I can't say if it suffered damage but if so, it was repaired. The Biloxi platform is exactly where it was in '05, behind the cathedral. Pascagoula station would not have suffered damage. I think Mobile station was sold and repurposed, so they need to build a new one. Pensacola station is exactly where it was. May need some sprucing up, having been unused all those years.

Think about the claim of 11 station buildings demolished or severely damaged. Which 11? I can only count 9 that were in the path of Katrina: New Orleans, Slidell, Picayune, Hattiesburg, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula. The first four are currently in operation. Four of the other five still exist and are in pretty good shape. What changes need to be made to Gulfport? A new awning to keep sun and rain off passengers. Biloxi? Move the platform a block east to the new transportation center. Pascagoula was too far away to have suffered any serious damage.

Gulfport Station: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3684968,-89.0948821,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1E3LCPI4V-08MgrDGVHYcQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Bay St. Louis: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.308078,-89.334286,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1s23556050!2e1!3e10!6s%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fproxy%2FFn0obfLqORj29hyioyrbbQyQ6ynJdlguiqWT9ST2F3D8EQ5ySUJbsybZeHZ4XBOyZc_OoH4GZHtDBXNpPVLkDiYgO2f35g%3Dw203-h114!7i3296!8i1854

Biloxi: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3987449,-88.8911272,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1si-bEQSd25FbNtPNI3_6HYw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656(the platform on the right of the photo is all there ever was, AFAIK)

Pascagoula: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3676371,-88.5599322,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVsMLMqsiH3s1-oZJsP7s_g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Mobile: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.6998273,-88.0457728,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sy-8HgFHiRwbO3yjR0U-x4w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Pensacola: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4192168,-87.1976604,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVMwO2FHk3Brkt7aB3gH0cQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656(sort of hard to see through the trees but the building is fine)

Better view of the Pensacola station but from farther away: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4195558,-87.1986394,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4qFxCQQatHmr4IlvXrZPsQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

[Ryan]

Articles in Trains Magazine from the period indicated that eleven station buildings were demolished or severely damaged by the hurricanes in 2005. Were those reports false?

There was more than one hurricane that made landfall on the Gulf Coast that year.... Look at more than just Katrina.

 

[Greg]

I'm sure everyone has already seen this re: Moorman support. Some crazy comments!

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Moorman-Amtrak-committed-to-reviving-Gulf-Coast-service--51033

 

[xyzzy]

The Amtrak station in Mobile (ex-L&N, 1956) was damaged by water beyond economic repair. It was demolished, and its site was reused for surface parking (reportedly, CSX sold the parcel). Some other site would have to be identified.

The photograph of the Mobile station in the link provided by Don Newcomb is the ex-GM&O station. It was reused for non-rail purposes many years ago. The L&N/CSX tracks on which Amtrak operated do not serve the ex-GM&O station, which was stub-ended.

 

[C&FWRR]

Not that there's new information, but for the sake of reading material here's a recent article posted on the website of a FL Panhandle media outlet ....

http://www.wzep1460.com/restoration-of-rail-service-makes-progress/

 

[DSS&A]

Hi,

Re-establishing Amtrak service east of New Orleans just hit a roadblock named Hunter Harrison. Many people, including Govenors, Senators, and the Southern Rail Commission, need to remind CSX that they wouldn't have a railroad east of New Orleans without significant taxpayer funds to rebuild their railroad after Katrina. Mr. Harrison and his negotiators have apparently forgot this important financial fact. Here's an article from a few days ago.

http://atmorenews.com/2017/06/14/amtrak-returning-not-so-fast/

 

[Ryan]

"We were down to a little less than $800 million when the Federal Railroad Administration thought the number should be $117 million to get us back up and going,” Gehman said. “There was still a distance, but CSX has since undergone an ownership change. Hunter Harrison took over, and he is not amenable to our interests. Their position was fixed and firm. They said we should go back to the original estimate of $2.3 billion, that they would have no further negotiations, and they walked out of the meeting.”

Well isn't that special.