Amtrak proposal could restore service between New Orleans and Orlando

[Dashing Dan]

When it ran through to Orlando, the Amtrak Sunset Limited ran only three days a week.  That was bad too.

[tufsu1]

yes, I agree, it must be a daylight run.  Lets hope they just got the route name wrong.

daylight in some parts of the route means night on other parts of the route...for example, a day run starting in Miami means a night run by the time it gets west of Tallahassee...and even an early morning run starting in Jax won't get to New Orleans before nightfall.

[Ocklawaha]

True TUFSU, but are we placing a train on that route for the benefit of a full scope of cities that have NO current service or are you thinking it's primarily for the through Los Angeles - Disney Orlando passengers? Consider too that those passengers arriving in Jacksonville in the PM hours could easily connect to everything north of the city all the way to New York, effectively opening a whole new transcontinental route. Extension of the Palmetto to Jacksonville and points south once again, (a day train that runs from New York to Savannah) would open up a morning arrival in Tampa/West Palm/Miami.

I think a day train with through cars to other trains would be a total success.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

^ I have no problems with a route stopping in Jax. in the evening if thats what makes sense for the corridor as a whole.

[Jaxson]

I took the Sunset Limited to Los Angeles in the summer of 2005 - shortly before Hurricane Katrina.  Other than our train running late into Union Station, it was a very scenic and memorable trip.  We even got free dinner in the dining car for our troubles with tardiness.  I was disappointed when I learned that this route's post-Katrina suspension would become a termination if Amtrak and our leaders did not do something.

[Ocklawaha]

TUFSU1 Here you go, this is a quick survey of the schedules involved in a daylight Gulf Wind train / Palmetto extension. Keep in mind there is also pressure on Amtrak to reestablish the Palmetto all the way into South Florida. A train originating at Miami could be split at Jacksonville with a NEW YORK 'section' and a NEW ORLEANS 'section.'


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REVISED AMTRAK PALMETTO SCHEDULE

6 15 Am                            New York                                11 07  PM   
9 55                                  Washington                              7 57
3 44                                  Fayetteville                              1 04
7 15                                  Charleston                               9 08
9 03                                  Savannah                                8 20
11 27 pm                          Jacksonville                              5 55 AM
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NEW GULF WIND PROPOSED SCHEDULE

6 15   AM   Dp   0           New Orleans, LA (CT)    C R   Ar    6 35  PM
8 00   A   Ar   145            Mobile, AL              Dp    5 05  P
11 35  A    Ar   248            Pensacola, FL              Dp    12 50 P
8 00    A      451.6    Tallahassee, FL                   8 30  A
11 00 PM    Ar   616.6    Jacksonville, FL (ET)       Dp    5 45  AM



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PROPOSED EXTENSION OF AMTRAK'S PALMETTO

11 50 PM    Dp    0.0            Jacksonville, FL (ET)       Ar    5 05  AM
2 35 P      146.6    Orlando, FL                  3 50   A
6 05 P      346.5    West Palm Beach, FL            11 20 A
7 10 P      388.9    Fort Lauderdale, FL          10 30 P
8 30 AM    Ar   416.6    Miami, FL (ET)              Dp    9 45   PM

Here is some of the original equipment from the old Gulf Wind. I'm posting this so others can see how a passenger train consists of cars, each with a unique destination. For example, board in Miami and the train has 12 cars, go to sleep in your bedroom and wake up in Lake City, as the train leans into a curve you discover it now has 5 cars... the others are on their way to Savannah. Let's just call this move 'The Jacksonville Terminal Effect.'

EQUIPMENT
THE GULF WIND.

Sleepers...[NJ-1] New Orleans-Jacksonville (4 Sections, 4 Roomettes, 5 Double Bedrooms, 1 Compartment).
Diner-Lounge...Flomaton-New Orleans.
Grill Cars...Chattahoochee-Jacksonville.
Coaches...New Orleans-Jacksonville. (Reclining Seats.)

As for connections to the Sunset Limited or City of New Orleans, which depart for Los Angeles and Chicago respectively in the afternoon. This means a Gulf Wind connection involves a layover in New Orleans. The same situation once effected the Crescent Limited (NYC-NORL). The railroads discovered much to their surprise that leaving a coach and sleeper in the New Orleans Union Terminal overnight became a very popular idea. Passengers got 20 hours in New Orleans and their 'hotel room on rails' waited at the Terminal. The next day these interchange cars were switched into the connecting trains. This is a simple, easy practice on railroads all over the world.

[Coolyfett]

Ock, I think most of our council and leaders are quite ignorant when it comes to understanding rail issues.  This is the reason more concern is placed on insignificant issues in comparison.  We just have to keep hitting these guys over the head with information.  If we're lucky, perhaps something will get lodged in there after a continuous array of haymakers.

Yea, Lake I like that you guys keep wacking them in the head, eventually someone in the right position will get it. Keep working man.