Amtrak aims to improve routes, boost ridership

[thelakelander]

The rail service seeks additional funding to offer more, faster options

By LARRY HANNAN, The Times-Union

For the past three months, Murray Johnston has regularly driven from Jacksonville to Columbia, S.C.

During the four- to five-hour drive, Johnston has occasionally wondered why there isn't a train that can take him to Columbia at a decent time. Amtrak has a train that goes from Jacksonville to Columbia, but it would require overnight travel.

That's not feasible, so Johnston drives to Columbia to see his wife, who's working on a project, and spends about $80 in gas during the ride.

"I don't understand why people can travel all over Europe and Japan by train, but you can't travel through the United States the same way," Johnston said.

That complaint is being heard by more people now that gas costs around $4 a gallon. People who never thought of taking the train are suddenly exploring it as an option.

Amtrak has been around since 1971 and is run by the federal government. The company was designed to be a nationwide rail service that would allow people to travel to all the major cities in America.

The rail company has operated at a deficit every year since it was created and has never run efficiently enough to be a good transportation option for many cross-country travelers.

Among the complaints from Jacksonville residents is that Amtrak doesn't go to enough locations and is always late on its current routes.

Matt Ringler of Jacksonville has considered taking Amtrak many times.

But the trip lengths and schedules have always led him to drive instead.

There needs to be an express route to all the major cities in Florida, such as a train that could go from Jacksonville to Miami in less than six hours, he said.

The quickest route from Jacksonville to Miami now takes more than eight hours.

There also needs to be commuter rail systems that would allow people to travel quickly from Jacksonville to areas such as Orange Park and St. Augustine, Ringler said.

Such comments aren't disputed by Amtrak officials, who said they want to improve service.

Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said the rail company wants to expand in Florida and hopes to enter into more partnerships with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Nationwide, Amtrak had its best month ever in May in terms of passengers and ticket revenue.

But the company said it needs more funding beyond the $1.2 billion it now gets if it is to expand existing services.

That funding may be coming soon. Congress has approved funding increases for the agency. The House passed a bill this year that would give Amtrak $15 billion from 2009 to 2013. Some of that money also would go toward intercity passenger rail and high-speed rail. The Senate has passed a bill that would give Amtrak about $11.4 billion over six years.

Officials expect to meet this summer to find a way to merge the two bills, said Bryan Gulley, spokesman for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

The House bill includes about $500 million that would encourage the construction of local commuter rail systems. Under the bill, if a local government put 20 percent of the money down for commuter rail, the federal government would pay the other 80 percent.

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., said that money could be beneficial in creating a commuter rail system in Jacksonville.

If the $500 million survives in the final bill, she said she will do what she can to get some of the money to Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Transportation Authority spokesman Mike Miller said the congressional funding bills were being watched closely by JTA officials.

The authority is conducting a study looking into the feasibility of a commuter rail system in the Jacksonville area.

U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said the House bill encourages public-private partnerships that could build a high-speed rail network in Florida.

Amtrak as it's now designed will never offer rail that can be used by a large number of people, but the public-private partnerships could work in the long term, Mica said.

larry.hannan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4470


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history and routes

The government-owned National Railroad Passenger Corp., commonly called Amtrak, was created in 1971 and now has 19,000 employees. Its board members are appointed by the president.

From Jacksonville, the train goes as far north as New York and as far south as Miami. Stops along the way include Tampa, Orlando, Savannah, Charleston, Columbia, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

There are no direct train routes from Jacksonville to major cities such as Boston, Atlanta and Chicago, but riders can get there by taking more than one train.

To check on routes, go to www.Amtrak.com.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071508/met_303763874.shtml

[Keith-N-Jax]

Unless things have changed over the past years, the train has always been more expensive than flying,maybe that has changed.Thats why I have always flown. Lets hopes this happens sooner than later.Everyone should be jumping on any other type of transit that doesnt invovles a car.

[Ocklawaha]

Things must have changed alot since you last "flew AMTRAK". Jacksonville to Columbia SC on Delta is about $800 without discounts Amtrak about $120. Both round trip.

The gap narrows somewhat on much longer stages, Jax to DC for example has some discounts on Delta right now at $262. While amtrak regular fare, without discounts is almost the same to the penny.

All are quoted on the carrier websites, jump on and play, you'll be amazed.

Besides airplane food tastes like cardboard-Mickey-D-leftovers and Amtrak is more like a 3 star restaurant on wheels... Umm lets see, do I have the Fillet of Mountain Trout with Orange-Pepper sauce or the Roast Game Hen?

America has forgotten how to travel, just look up the word. There is no formal meaning that equates travel with the current concept of "trip". I means to journey, as to pass-through, a sojourn, voyage. A scene from the first half of the Titanic Movie, and trains don't usually sink. (though it has happened a few times including one at the Ortega river bridge back in the day)

OCKLAWAHA