I HAVE A DREAM!

[Ocklawaha]

Imagine now that Amtrak is finally getting funding afer a lifetime of poverty funding and stupid opposing requirements like "make a profit" and "serve the routes we tell you to serve" or "be nationwide". Now the long time dream of getting the passenger trains back where they belong is a reachable goal. The funds are split between regular Amtrak budget needs, fleet repair and enlargment as well as, route expansion and improvement. The most exciting piece of the whole thing though is the section 403-b AND -c of the Amtrak acts. Under the provision of 403-B a state like Florida can obtain funding for massive changes using a fractional precentage of routes total start-up and operations costs. Under section 403-C several states can join together and creae a new route and share the expensese while Amtrak antee's up the lions share of the costs.

So if we could play the brass-hat here, what trains would you order for the Southeast? How about Florida? How about Jacksonville?

TO AND FROM THE EAST COAST:

THE CHAMPION - Tampa-Orlando-Jacksonville-Charleston-Richmond-Washington-New York-Boston
THE MIAMIAN - Miami-Ft Lauderdale-Daytona-Jacksonville-Charleston-Richmond-Washington-New York
THE PALMETTO - Tampa-Orlando-Jacksonville-Charleston-Richmond-Washington-New York
THE SILVER METEOR - Miami-Ft Lauderdale-Orlando-Jacksonville-Raeigh-Richmnd-Washington-New York-Boston
THE SILVER STAR - Miami-Ft. Lauderdale - Orlando- Jadksonville-Raiegh-Richmond-Washington-New York
THE CAROLINA SPECIAL - Jacksonville-Columbia-Charlotte-Washington-New York
THE TIDEWATER - Jacksonville-Charleston-Portsmouth-Norfolk

TO AND FROM CHICAGO AND THE MIDWEST:

THE ROYAL PALM - Jacksonville-Macon-Atlanta-Chattanooga-Knoxville-Cincinnati-(Chicago) (Cleveland) (Detroit)
THE PONCE DE LEON - Jacksonville - Macon-Atlanta-Chattanooga-Knoxville-Cinninnati-
THE HUMMINGBIRD - Jacksonville - Atlanta - Nashville - St. Louis
THE CITY OF MIAMI - Miami-Ft.Lauderdale-Daytona-Jacksonville-Birmingham-Memphis-Chicago
THE DIXIE FLYER - Jacksonville - Waycross-Manchester-Atlanta

TO AND FROM THE WEST:

THE SUNSET LIMITED- Jacksonville-New Orleans-Houston-San Antonio-El Paso-Phoenix-Los Angeles
THE SUNBEAM - Jacksonville-New Orleans-Baton Rouge-Shereveport-Dallas-Ft.Worth
THE GULF WIND - Jacksonville - Tallahassee - Mobile - Gulfport - New Orleans

LOCAL SERVICES NORTH:

Jacksonville - Shands - Airport - Yulee - Fermandina Beach (Hourly morning and evening rush + 2 day + 2 late trains)
Jacksonville - Shands - Airport (Half Hourly Service early AM to Late PM daily)

LOCAL SERVICES WEST:

Jacksonville - Baldwin - Maclenny (hourly service Morning and evening rush)
Jaksonvile - Baldwin - Maclenny - Lake City - Tallahassee (Hourly serivce Morning and evening rush + 2 day + 2 late trains.
Jacksonville - Tallahassee - Marianna - Crestview - Pensacola (2 daily trains, one AM and one PM)

LOCAL SERIVES CENTRAL FLORIDA:

Jacksonville - Baldwin - Starke - Alachua - Gainesville (2 morning AM trains + noon train + 2 evening PM trains)

LOCAL SERVICES SOUTHWEST:

Jacksonville - Orange Park - Green Cove Springs - Palatka (Hourly service Morning and evening rush + 2 day + 2 late trains)
Jacksonville - Orange Park - Green Cove Springs (Hourly service early AM until late PM daily)

LOCAL SERVICES EAST COAST:

Jacksonville - Bay Meadows - Avenues - Nocatee - St. Augustine (30 minute service AM and PM rush + mid-day and evening)

Okay, anyone got a checkbook? Let's get that station built, Add that walk to Bay Street, add those platforms, put in those retail and food consessions... get that convention center moved down the river, let's roll up our sleves and become the railroad gateway as GOD intended it. While this post might bring a smile or two, it is based on REAL trains that once ran, in combination with track that is in place and could be used tomorrow. In otherwords, there are no hidden projects here, like railroads to the beach or Hawaii. EVERYTHING in this post could be done if we'd just get off the funding and lead from the top.

Ocklawaha

[billy]

Atlanta drew up plans for a multi-modal station next to Five oPoints MARTA about 20 years ago.
Someone told me that they would have to shift freight lines and traffic for it to work.