Is Florida entering its golden age of rail?

[tufsu1]

^ as long as we don't count government-backed loans as government money

[Charles Hunter]

As long as they pay them back, why would anyone?  Do we count government insured (backed) savings accounts as "government money"?

[Jaxson]

Can Corrine Brown deliver for Florida? 

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/07/15/north-florida-leaders-want-amtrak.html

[JeffreyS]

What about government secured leases? Those low rate loans and leases certainly represent investment by the tax payer.  I have no problem with it I think it is great and do not mind at all mitigating the private risk for the public good.

[thelakelander]

Can Corrine Brown deliver for Florida? 

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/07/15/north-florida-leaders-want-amtrak.html

That article dates back to July. I sat in on a rail presentation in September where a representative from FDOT pretty much stated that Amtrak still wasn't interested in bringing the Sunset Limited back.

[Jaxson]

Can Corrine Brown deliver for Florida? 

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/07/15/north-florida-leaders-want-amtrak.html

That article dates back to July. I sat in on a rail presentation in September where a representative from FDOT pretty much stated that Amtrak still wasn't interested in bringing the Sunset Limited back.

Drat.

[spuwho]

I was looking at a funding deck for Amtrak and they still showed the Sunset Route as a dotted line from Jax to NOLA.

Not sure if that was to placate Corrine and the Florida delegation.

[thelakelander]

I'd say it's to placate.  From the way it looks to me, if Congresswoman Brown really wants it, she'll have to pay for it.

[JayBird]

If I'm not mistaken, those maps will continue to show the Sunset Route as long as there are still stations existing along the line owned by Amtrak (anyone else heard that? Not sure where I heard/read it so only 55% sure). Not sure why, you'd think they could sell those small properties to local development. Or maybe just holding on to see if AAF will spread west or inspire another private agency.

As for the Sunset Limited, it was such a shoddy schedule how could they think it would make money? If it at least ran once a day (preferably not stopping in Jax at 3am, then more people would have used it in my opinion. Unfortunately, as much as I hate paying $3.50+ for a gallon I gas, those high prices is what I think will bring about a larger shift to intercity train transit. Had they restored this line after the bridge collapse in 2005, and made it a daily route, this might have been a profitable line for Amtrak in those 2008-2012 "rough" years.

[thelakelander]

I can't imagine it being profitable if they increased service on the Sunset Limited.  Most of Amtrak's most popular routes aren't profitable.  They are just subsidized less.  In the case of the desire to operate on the FEC betweeen Jax and Miami, they believe they have a chance to break even operating the service, assuming the state pays the capital costs.

[Jaxson]

If I'm not mistaken, those maps will continue to show the Sunset Route as long as there are still stations existing along the line owned by Amtrak (anyone else heard that? Not sure where I heard/read it so only 55% sure). Not sure why, you'd think they could sell those small properties to local development. Or maybe just holding on to see if AAF will spread west or inspire another private agency.

As for the Sunset Limited, it was such a shoddy schedule how could they think it would make money? If it at least ran once a day (preferably not stopping in Jax at 3am, then more people would have used it in my opinion. Unfortunately, as much as I hate paying $3.50+ for a gallon I gas, those high prices is what I think will bring about a larger shift to intercity train transit. Had they restored this line after the bridge collapse in 2005, and made it a daily route, this might have been a profitable line for Amtrak in those 2008-2012 "rough" years.

I agree that the poor schedule doomed the Orlando to New Orleans leg of the Sunset Limited.  I still think that there should be a way to connect the Gulf Coast states.  I wonder if there are enough people who dislike driving Interstate 10 to support a better scheduled train between Florida and Louisiana.  Even a connecting Amtrak Thruway bus service to hook up with the Sunset Limited in New Orleans would be helpful. 

[JayBird]

Even a connecting Amtrak Thruway bus service to hook up with the Sunset Limited in New Orleans would be helpful.

That might be good way to test, somehow compare Greyhound tickets before/after service disconnected may also work. I think it would get more use if the tracks were closer to the gulf in Florida so it hit Panama City, port st joe, destin and the like.