Question about truncation of Sunset Limited

[marcoloco]

What was the reason that service on the Sunset Limited east of New Orleans was never restored? There seem to be be a ton of articles talking about proposal to restore train service between New Orleans and Jacksonville, but I haven't found anything that explains why service was never restored after the infrastructure damage from Hurricane Katrina was repaired.

There was a movement to restore the service about 5 years ago, but since this route (nol to florida part) is not part of the original Amtrak system that was formed in 1971, the STATES have to help pay for it. The governor of Alabama refused to kick in Alabama's share to that is what killed it on the last try. Keep in mind, any NEW amtrak service anywhere, the states have to kick in money. The original routes, like the Sunset Limited (but between New Orleans and LAX only) are grandfathered in and are purely federally funded and the states it travels through do not have to kick in anything. Sometimes, if not all the time, it's hard to get a straight answer from Amtrak on anything, as in this case, they don't "bad mouth" anybody, as in the case of the restoration of Florida service, Amtrak would never tell you the truth and bad mouth the governor of Alabama. Looking at it from the governor's point of view, she figured it would not bring in enough tourists to Alabama to make up for the money and she was probably right on the point. After all that tourist go the Mobile, AL. Who knows, it happened once, it might happen again. Keep in mind also that Amtrak is a way for the freight railroads to "milk" the federal government. Pay the freight railroads enough and they'll do anything.

 

[Chatter163]

This thread is two years old, but apparently it has been revived. The Sunset Limited actually a Miami-Los Angeles train upon its Amtrak inception in 1993. Within a few years it was shortened, first to Sanford (1997), then extended to Orlando the following year.

 

[Bob Dylan]

This thread is two years old, but apparently it has been revived. The Sunset Limited actually a Miami-Los Angeles train upon its Amtrak inception in 1993. Within a few years it was shortened, first to Sanford (1997), then extended to Orlando the following year.

If the New Orleans to Mobile Train ever starts running, that's about the best we can hope for in regards to Passenger Rail along the Gulf Coast.

The Sunset East is in Train Valhala with the Pioneer,Desert Wind,International,Broadway Ltd,Lone Star, etc etc.

 

[west point]

The Sunset East is in Train Valhala with the Pioneer,Desert Wind,International,Broadway Ltd,Lone Star, etc etc.

None of the above routes can be initiated before 2030 due to equipment constrictions. IMO it will take at least that long to have enough ICT train sets to expand back to using those routes. As well some of the present LD trains will get enough capacity to meet demand. Then the possibility of a ~ 12 hour opposite time train on part or all of a current route. All the above items will probably prevent any expansion to restore the above routes. I hate that as well.

 

[jis]

None of the above routes can be initiated before 2030 due to equipment constrictions. IMO it will take at least that long to have enough ICT train sets to expand back to using those routes. As well some of the present LD trains will get enough capacity to meet demand. Then the possibility of a ~ 12 hour opposite time train on part or all of a current route. All the above items will probably prevent any expansion to restore the above routes. I hate that as well.

ICTs are specifically for regional corridors, not for LD. The new equipment for LD trains is yet to be determined. So one can safely surmise that ICTs will have little effect on restoring any LD service.

Specifically, I suspect that Sunset East is done for permanently. It will not get restored. Any NOL - JAX - ORL service will either be a self standing separate service or it may be an extension of the CONO.

 

[Trogdor]

This thread is two years old, but apparently it has been revived. The Sunset Limited actually a Miami-Los Angeles train upon its Amtrak inception in 1993. Within a few years it was shortened, first to Sanford (1997), then extended to Orlando the following year.

The Sunset Limited has been around since Amtrak started. The Florida extension occurred in 1993, but the Sunset’s “Amtrak inception” was May 1, 1971.

In fact, the Sunset Limited is the longest continuously operating named passenger train in US history, having run since 1894.

 

[Amtrak709]

The Sunset Limited has been around since Amtrak started. The Florida extension occurred in 1993, but the Sunset’s “Amtrak inception” was May 1, 1971.

In fact, the Sunset Limited is the longest continuously operating named passenger train in US history, having run since 1894.

I had not noticed or read the entire contents of this thread before today. In my years as a railfan since the 1960's, that April day in 1993 when the Sunset made its first trip extended NOL-MIA to me was a great day for a railfan--first service on those tracks since before 1970 (I don't remember exactly when the Gulf Wind was discontinued). I wanted to be on that first trip. And I did. Living in Daytona Beach at the time, rode the Silver Meteor to WAS; then the Crescent to NOL with a connection to the first eastbound Sunset, Ltd NOL-DLD. It was also my first ever trip on a Superliner sleeper--all my travels on the western trains had been pre-Superliners. Very uneventful trip except the SCA failed to get a family in the sleeper (last car on the train) departing Tallahassee off the train (unfamiliar territory I guess). Train was stopped a second time well past the station platform. Got permission from dispatcher to back-up. Significant delay. Thanks for letting reminisce a little.

 

[Chatter163]

The Sunset Limited has been around since Amtrak started. The Florida extension occurred in 1993, but the Sunset’s “Amtrak inception” was May 1, 1971.

In fact, the Sunset Limited is the longest continuously operating named passenger train in US history, having run since 1894.

True. My wording should have reflected that.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

The Sunset East is in Train Valhala with the Pioneer,Desert Wind,International,Broadway Ltd,Lone Star, etc etc.

Is there a full list of every route that has been lost or truncated since Amtrak was formed?

Specifically, I suspect that Sunset East is done for permanently. It will not get restored. Any NOL - JAX - ORL service will either be a self standing separate service or it may be an extension of the CONO.

I would say it is more likely the Sunset West is mothballed than the Sunset East returns to service.

 

[rspenmoll]

Is there a full list of every route that has been lost or truncated since Amtrak was formed?

I found this list on Wikipedia that purports to list all current and former routes.