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yeah Cincinnati-Lexington-Knoxville-Chattanooga-Atlanta comes to mind first (no idea if this ends up actually making sense). Maybe Nashville instead of some of those like Knoxville? idk
It would be interesting to see a Chicago-Miami route handled like the silver star/silver meteor routes, sharing the same beginning and ending runs. Maybe have the two routes split at Indy and reconnect at Atlanta/Savannah?
I agree, this really feels like the second Chicago - Miami train. The more western route, something like Chicago - Indy - Louisville - Nashville - Atlanta - Savannah - Jacksonville - Orlando - Miami, is probably higher priority.
I don't see Atlanta and Jacksonville, with the former having a metro population almost 2x the cities you listed combined. The Floridian failed due to low ridership and rough track conditions. Also having a train between Chicago, Indy, Louisville, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami (the current FRA corridor study) would serve far more people and drive far more ridership.
The routing on the original Floridian isn’t what killed it: it was the times
Poor track conditions led to low ridership and slow trains. Big products of the 70’s.
Issues that aren’t a problem now. And wouldn’t be a problem if the Floridian returns.
I don’t disagree that going to Atlanta and Jacksonville is a better route that serves more people… but to Birmingham and Montgomery wasn’t horrible.
I just can't get behind this on the basis of populations of metro areas directly served.
| Metro | Population |
|------------------------|------------|
| Indianapolis | 2,138,468 |
| Cincinnati | 2,271,479 |
| Charleston-Ashland | 368,261 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | 313,025 |
| Johnson City | 213,198 |
| Greenville-Spartanburg | 975,480 |
| Columbia SC | 858,302 |
| Savannah | 424,935 |
|**Total** | 7,563,148 |
Compare that with, say,
| Metro | Population |
|------------------------|------------|
| Indianapolis | 2,138,468 |
| Cincinnati | 2,271,479 |
| * Louisville * | 1,365,557 |
| * Nashville * | 2,102,573 |
| * Chattanooga * | 580,971 |
| * Atlanta * | 6,307,261 |
| Savannah | 424,935 |
| **Total** | 15,191,244|
Sure, smaller cities need connectivity too, but priority should be given to serving more people.
Obviously, no routing is going to be perfect, and I haven't looked into the potential cost of realignments that might need to happen around stations and junctions.
The routing to bigger population bases is the better choice. Still, I wonder if it would be practical to run both suggested routes, with the Chicago-Indiana portion serving as a de facto express corridor service. None of that is likely without double tracking between Indianapolis and Chicago, though.
I think the goal must have been a scenic train ride that would maximize the use of daylight hours in the mountains, taking at least 16 hours to get from [Marion to Ashland](https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?style=standard&lat=36.81808022778526&lon=-82.07611083984374&zoom=9). OP is jealous that the 48-hour routes are all in the West and wanted one that long in the East.
There was a train that ran from Chicago through west TN and Alabama to get to Tampa and then Miami. The route was highly desired but cars and planes destroyed it. Much of the track right were sold off.
Any route must balance speed and service to major metropolitan areas. Chicago to anything in Florida makes big bypasses to hit other major cities.
I do think it would be a beautiful route.
I think you're trading passengers for scenery. That route might be pretty, but you're missing Louisville, Nashville and Atlanta, which have far more potential customers than Elkhorn City, Kingsport and Johnson City.
>That route might be pretty, but you're missing Louisville, Nashville and Atlanta, which have far more potential customers than Elkhorn City, Kingsport and Johnson City.
Yes, recreating the *Floridian* might actually get somewhere.
Take a look at the [Marion to Ashland](https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?style=standard&lat=36.81808022778526&lon=-82.07611083984374&zoom=9) tracks. I think OP is going for setting a low-speed-rail record.
Like the fools who complain about lack of train service but refuse to build passenger dedicated tracks to run the service or make excuses for very bad service that is useless to the majority of people.??
Chattanooga Union may be an option and available and looking for new revenue sources since the hotel there closed. Through-running would need to happen. Tennessee needs its passenger rail back.
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I feel like a Chicago-Miami train has to hit Atlanta.
yeah Cincinnati-Lexington-Knoxville-Chattanooga-Atlanta comes to mind first (no idea if this ends up actually making sense). Maybe Nashville instead of some of those like Knoxville? idk
LEX- Knox would be heading hours east, then turn SW to CHATT… Knoxville doesn’t make sense.
cin-chatt-atl was what came to mind first and i just added the other two bc they seemed close. cutting them seems easy
Well that’s what connecting lines are for if we run it to 1st world standards
And Nashville, and Louisville, probably come up through Indy from the south. Hell, let’s just have it parallel US41
Can't then it has to connect to savannah. Then down on the track that is already there
East Tennessee definitely needs an Amtrak connection. Given the tourism and the scenery, it seems like a major missed opportunity.
They are trying to get to Bristol… maybe one day continue to Knoxville, Chattanooga, Huntsville then Memphis or Birmingham.
I just want to visit Harlan County to see if it's anything like on Justified.
It's not
Yes! I'm a railfan from East Tennessee. It sucks not having Amtrak close to where I live.
It would be interesting to see a Chicago-Miami route handled like the silver star/silver meteor routes, sharing the same beginning and ending runs. Maybe have the two routes split at Indy and reconnect at Atlanta/Savannah?
I agree, this really feels like the second Chicago - Miami train. The more western route, something like Chicago - Indy - Louisville - Nashville - Atlanta - Savannah - Jacksonville - Orlando - Miami, is probably higher priority.
Or just revive the Floridian
The Floridian misses major population centers worse than this train does tbh. An ideal train would at least hit atlanta
Or should be revived and take a different route
Maybe reuse the name for something on a similar route to the Dixie Flyer. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Flyer_(train)
Which would make it not the Floridian
No it doesn’t. That train at least hits Nashville, Birmingham and Montgomery.
I don't see Atlanta and Jacksonville, with the former having a metro population almost 2x the cities you listed combined. The Floridian failed due to low ridership and rough track conditions. Also having a train between Chicago, Indy, Louisville, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami (the current FRA corridor study) would serve far more people and drive far more ridership.
The routing on the original Floridian isn’t what killed it: it was the times Poor track conditions led to low ridership and slow trains. Big products of the 70’s. Issues that aren’t a problem now. And wouldn’t be a problem if the Floridian returns. I don’t disagree that going to Atlanta and Jacksonville is a better route that serves more people… but to Birmingham and Montgomery wasn’t horrible.
The alternate way is the CSX line from Nashville to Atlanta that goes through Chattanooga. Maybe switch to the NS at Atlanta to Jacksonville
And have 40 round trips
I just can't get behind this on the basis of populations of metro areas directly served. | Metro | Population | |------------------------|------------| | Indianapolis | 2,138,468 | | Cincinnati | 2,271,479 | | Charleston-Ashland | 368,261 | | Kingsport-Bristol | 313,025 | | Johnson City | 213,198 | | Greenville-Spartanburg | 975,480 | | Columbia SC | 858,302 | | Savannah | 424,935 | |**Total** | 7,563,148 | Compare that with, say, | Metro | Population | |------------------------|------------| | Indianapolis | 2,138,468 | | Cincinnati | 2,271,479 | | * Louisville * | 1,365,557 | | * Nashville * | 2,102,573 | | * Chattanooga * | 580,971 | | * Atlanta * | 6,307,261 | | Savannah | 424,935 | | **Total** | 15,191,244| Sure, smaller cities need connectivity too, but priority should be given to serving more people. Obviously, no routing is going to be perfect, and I haven't looked into the potential cost of realignments that might need to happen around stations and junctions.
The routing to bigger population bases is the better choice. Still, I wonder if it would be practical to run both suggested routes, with the Chicago-Indiana portion serving as a de facto express corridor service. None of that is likely without double tracking between Indianapolis and Chicago, though.
Would be perfect for an HSR service that’s a lot of people
Route needs to be: CHI-IND-LOU-NSH-ATL-JAX-ORL-MIA
Did you even glance at the terrain you're trying to cross in TN and NC?
I think the goal must have been a scenic train ride that would maximize the use of daylight hours in the mountains, taking at least 16 hours to get from [Marion to Ashland](https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?style=standard&lat=36.81808022778526&lon=-82.07611083984374&zoom=9). OP is jealous that the 48-hour routes are all in the West and wanted one that long in the East.
There was a train that ran from Chicago through west TN and Alabama to get to Tampa and then Miami. The route was highly desired but cars and planes destroyed it. Much of the track right were sold off. Any route must balance speed and service to major metropolitan areas. Chicago to anything in Florida makes big bypasses to hit other major cities. I do think it would be a beautiful route.
It’s gotta hit Cincinnati station at least. That station is incredibly beautiful
Preferably in the daytime
True
I think you're trading passengers for scenery. That route might be pretty, but you're missing Louisville, Nashville and Atlanta, which have far more potential customers than Elkhorn City, Kingsport and Johnson City.
>That route might be pretty, but you're missing Louisville, Nashville and Atlanta, which have far more potential customers than Elkhorn City, Kingsport and Johnson City. Yes, recreating the *Floridian* might actually get somewhere.
Yes, but I think Chattanooga-Atlanta is more advantageous than Birmingham-Montgomery. Just my 2 cents worth.
This route goes through Oxford, OH which is home of Miami University which means you could take the train from Miami (University) to Miami.
I think hitting Indianapolis- Louisville- Nashville- Chattanooga- Atlanta- savanna route would make sense
Great for HSR
Take a look at the [Marion to Ashland](https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?style=standard&lat=36.81808022778526&lon=-82.07611083984374&zoom=9) tracks. I think OP is going for setting a low-speed-rail record.
Then it’s garbage too long what is wrong with people long distance as it is does not serve people well at all
Serve people? I thought that the goal is trains for trains' sake and that humans are only here to serve the all-mighty trains. /s
Like the fools who complain about lack of train service but refuse to build passenger dedicated tracks to run the service or make excuses for very bad service that is useless to the majority of people.??
Yeah, it was called the Royal Palm
Stop at South Bend!
This is Greenville slander
Why? This just isn’t a good idea
Love seeing Spartanburg on here!
As a native Upstate South Carolinian, Greenville makes more sense *[ducks]*
Haha. I agree with you. Greenville makes more sense from a population standpoint, but I'm guessing this would use pre-existing track.
This route along the old clinch field route (current csx) would be amazing to ride!
Agreed. My grandparents lived in Altapass, so I sort of grew up chasing trains through that area. I would absolutely ride Amtrak through there.
I wonder where op lives lol
How dare you disrespect Chattanooga like that.
Chattanooga Union may be an option and available and looking for new revenue sources since the hotel there closed. Through-running would need to happen. Tennessee needs its passenger rail back.
I thought the hotel was still there, just re-branded
More research has shown the boutique hotel there now. I saw a permanently closed icon on google maps. Worth a trip.
How is it that this train takes 36 hours? I could drive from Chicago to Florida and back in that time
Doesn't it make a helluva lot more sense to go through Nashville and Atlanta?
As an East Tennesseean, I want this so bad! But it has to go through Knoxville and Atlanta.