Group Wants Atlanta-Savannah Passenger Rail Line (Albany, Washington: home, prices, military)

[StAubin]

Atlanta-to-Savannah train pushed by transit supporters | Atlanta News & Opinion Blog | Fresh Loaf | Creative Loafing Atlanta

I like the Idea, I could see it as a boost for georgia's economy.

[ATLTJL]

Not just Savannah, but if you put an AMTRAK line that cut from Atlanta to Miami, you'd be able to pick up the Silver Star or Silver Meteor there. That means you'd be able to go all the way down the coast of Florida to Miami.

Right now you have to through Washington to do that? Crazy! I wonder if more people would jump on Amtrak to take a trip to Florida.

[MathmanMathman]

Why bother? Delta can fly you there in about an hour.

If Amtrak thought the route profitable, they'd have done it by now. I don't understand all this talk about rail service to small cities. Why do you think there are so many passenger airline services but only one rail service and it's US government owned.

[StAubin]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Why bother? Delta can fly you there in about an hour.

If Amtrak thought the route profitable, they'd have done it by now. I don't understand all this talk about rail service to small cities. Why do you think there are so many passenger airline services but only one rail service and it's US government owned.

Have you seen delta prices to Savannah?

The reason this has yet to be done is probobly due to high start up cost or lack of cooperation with the rail owners. This is a well travled route and if executed properly and efficently, could be profitable.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by StAubin

Have you seen delta prices to Savannah?

So it's not much of a market.

The reason this has yet to be done is probobly due to high start up cost or lack of cooperation with the rail owners. This is a well travled route and if executed properly and efficently, could be profitable.

Who better than Amtrak to make it work? If Amtrak can't, who can?

[aries4118]

How about at least a megabus route from Atlanta to Savannah...?


http://us.megabus.com/routemap.aspx

[C. Gwyn]

I believe that a passenger rail system between Atlanta and Savannah would pay for itself in a short period of time. I was told that the current "freight rail" system between the two cities isn't safe enough to transport passengers. Back in the late 1950s, the old "Nancy Hanks" line ran between the two cities, carrying civilian and military passengers. A totally new rail system would have to be put in place for passenger transport. But I still believe that there is so much that could be made because of the great tourist market in Savannah, and the proximity to the beaches at Tybee (Savannah Beach). An Atlanta/Savannah line could be tied into the Amtrak Coastal routes in Savannah that run the Silver Star, Silver Meteor, and Palmetto up and down the east coast. It makes a lot of sense to me, but apparently it doesn't make much CENTS to Amtrak.

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by StAubin

Have you seen delta prices to Savannah?

The reason this has yet to be done is probobly due to high start up cost or lack of cooperation with the rail owners. This is a well travled route and if executed properly and efficently, could be profitable.

Not only that but a high speed train would get you to Savannah in about the same amount of time if you factor having to get to the airport at least 2 hours prior to your departure time. I think it's a great idea, and should have been built 50 years ago.

[bryantm3]

sounds fantastic! they could reopen the historic train station in macon. love the idea!

[NY2ATL2NY]

I Think this Rail Line would be a great success..Ive made that drive to savannah and would gladly have taken a Train had it been available...Savannh is a great down home city...It makes no sense that you have to backtrack all the way to Washington..I also Think that this would be great for folks wanting to go the beaches and for the Elderly as well...if u had nice fast service say 2.5 to 2 hours...you could easily spend the day in davvanh and be back in ATL for dinner...Amtrak cant do it becuase the goverment dosent even want them in existence ( A Law forces them
To maintain "some " kind of national system) they give them ****ty funding meanwhile evrythin else is spent into the Billions on the stupid Interstates...Its like New york city and its capital Albany not being connected via rail...amtrak runs bewtween the two about 8 or 10 times a day ...A VERY PROFITABLE ROUTE INDEED...But you know how it goes in GA ...Theyll widen 75/16 to 20 lanes all the way before a single platform is ever built...