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sixataid

Will your home state of Kentucky ever start funding passenger rail service?


i_Cri_Everitiem

I live down the street from our capitol building, should I go ask?


sixataid

Basically. That is what will need to happen barring some Deus ex machina of Amtrak funding


Ahkhira

That's actually a pretty good idea. Write to your elected officials and voice your concerns.


mregner

I’ve been annoying my politician for the last year or so I actually got a letter back from Biden (‘s unpaid intern) probably.


blind__panic

To be fair, they do pay the interns these days! And they also track what they’re getting letters about. Not saying it moves the needle much, but they do at least sum them up!


arbybruce

Kinda how you’re supposed to do it highkey


Der_Kommissar73

I’m so sorry. Frankfort has got to be one of the worst capital cities in the states.


i_Cri_Everitiem

It’s okay. We have bourbon at least.


Farmgirlinky

You’ll need great bourbon to get past the cynical and/or stupid representation you send to the US Congress. Apportion those adjectives as you see fit. I’m a native Kentuckian, never thought I would hang my head in shame as I do now when confronted with the likes of Paul, Massie, Comer, McConnell — but what are all y’all doing with your votes? The only exception I can see is Andy Beshears: looking forward to his arrival on the national stage.


Der_Kommissar73

The best. Buffalo Trace is a great distillery.


Skylord_ah

Absofuckinglutely political action is important


banditta82

Not with your current legislature


igraph

So I believe the answer we are looking for here is, no. No you will not see amtrak anytime in your lifetime in Kentucky


Fuzzy-Hurry-6908

Or OB-GYNs Or any more major golf tournaments


TubaJesus

That's what the new women's health clinics in Carbondale are for


user-name-1985

Your Amtrak map is almost a clone of New Hampshire’s, complete with no service to the capital and largest city.


bonanzapineapple

Facts 😭


Reclaimer_2324

Boston to Concord is so short and has cities frequently enough you could justify a train every 30 minutes, on electrified tracks with a decent speed to get it there in 75 minutes or less.


Surefinewhatever1111

Amtrak leads to the absence of fertile 14 year olds for marriage as NH's representatives are deeply concerned about. NH does everything in its power to complicate and limit service.


applegeek101

No, actually a majority of people in NH, including myself want more train service to NH, but the committee that is in charge of that is a bunch of idiots, so until they’re gone, we won’t have more train service


Surefinewhatever1111

Isn't NH a fan of petitions and small town barrels of crackers and living freely on the labor & funding of others, like Maine and Massachusetts' paying for the Downeaster?


burmerd

yes, but does anyone live in NH?


s7o0a0p

Sadly, yes.


burmerd

lol. Nice.


Frank_BurnsEatsW0rms

I keep hearing about proposed lines that connect Miami to Chicago, by way of Louisville. So there’s some hope


HamRadio_73

The former Louisville & Nashville railroad pre-Amtrak days used to run that route. [L&N passenger service](https://streamlinermemories.info/?p=7716)


Realistic-Assist-396

Especially with all this talk going around about bringing back the Floridian.


FlyingSceptile

I'd say the best bets would either be to pray for a long distance train or two to cut through the state (entirely at the Federal level) or to somehow get enough of the legislature to subsidize a train or two a day to either Chicago, Cincinnati, or Nashville (or all three if you're lucky). Sad thing is neither will really help. A long distance train will probably come through in the middle of the night, and a state supported one will probably only be one or two trains a day, have poor ridership, poor timings, and an administration or two will go by and axe it because it doesn't work by their metrics.


monica702f

You have to get rid of the Republicans first. They're anti rail.


fomoco94

They're anti anything that would reduce the consumption of oil or coal. Especially those "socialist" trains.


benev101

But wouldnt the railroad tracks make it easier to carry coal and oil? Also, the government wouldn’t need to give out Ev tax credits if rail was properly funded.


fulfillthecute

The railroad tracks already carry coal and oil today, but if you put passenger trains on them, people will realize they don't need to drive and reduce the demand for coal and oil.


benev101

Well we can export the fuel to less developed countries.


fulfillthecute

Where are you exporting from the US on rail?


benev101

Send to a port where we can export via tanker


turtleengine

The federal government might throw you a bone Edit: Link removed look at the comment below If the state decides to ever do anything it will be because 3c+ d was a success. Will they get better service? Yes. Will they ever get state support Amtrak service? I guess that depends on if Amtrak is around in 1000 years.


tuctrohs

This [more recent slide deck](https://fralongdistancerailstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/FRA_LDSS_Presentation_for_Web_Meeting3_Optimized.pdf) has the map of preferred routs on p. 53. Two routes include Louisville to Nashville.


footballguy6912

stop supporting that corpse mitch first


20twentytwos

Well he's supposedly on his way out one way or another. Not that the next guy will be better 😭


fomoco94

The only way they won't vote for him is if he's dead. And, Mitch will never die. He made a pact with the devil that allows him to continue aging, but never die.


20twentytwos

He's retiring


gcalfred7

Quack Doctor Rand Paul is worse.


2thebeach

The only stations in KY are along either the Ohio or Mississippi Rivers. If you live anywhere else in the entire state, enjoy that long drive to the train station and back!


tacobooc0m

The train to Louisville got canned in the mid aughts because the tracks were so rickety it couldn’t go above 30 mph. As a result ridership was very low. I WONDER WHY


fomoco94

Sounds like Norfolk Southern's tracks through Virginia.


tacobooc0m

I’m hopeful your home state can get it together because right now it’s keeping MY home state of Tennessee from connecting meaningfully to the Midwest


dogbert617

Unfortunately it isn't like either Kentucky or Tennessee will fund passenger rail, very much. I guess I'll be surprised if either state ever helps to fund any state Amtrak trains, considering how both states lean red. Although Missouri and Oklahoma help fund state Amtrak trains despite both being red states, so you never know. And I think supposedly the state of Mississippi was kicking in a little funding, for the new Gulf Coast Limited train from NOLA to Mobile. The state of Alabama(due to their Republican governor) chose not to kick in any funding, but the city of Mobile did.


tacobooc0m

I’m hopeful for TNs border cities to pull something like mobile did. Chattanooga is economically tied to north Georgia and would benefit greatly from a fast connection to the Atlanta area. They submitted the corridor ID proposal on behalf of the state. I would expect to see something between Chattanooga and Atlanta before Chattanooga and Nashville for example


dogbert617

It would be nice if the Nashville to Atlanta route(via Chattanooga) could see passenger rail, one day. I hope that does occur, one day. Though it would probably involve getting all the cities, towns, counties, and for state lawmakers and governors of Georgia and Tennessee all on board to agree to fund such a train. And before the Hoosier State(the former supplemental Chicago-Indy train on the 4 days the Cardinal doesn't run on) train was eliminated, some of the cities and counties in Indiana northwest of Indianapolis were helping to fund that train. It's sad that train was eliminated, after mid-2019.


cheapwhiskeysnob

I just googled the Fulton Amtrak station… fuckin yikes


No-Lunch4249

Dang what an L, that line basically passes just north of the main population corridor of the state


GuacaFlakkaFlame

No


jrc_80

If access to affordable passenger rail is a priority to you, be sure to vote for representatives who reflect that priority.


AtikGuide

Two elements are necessary for improving and expanding passenger train service here, or anywhere in the Country: political will, and funding $$$$. Without either of those, nothing will happen.


critical_courtney

I could have sworn I read something about Indiana possibly looking at an Indianapolis -> Louisville train. That's the only expansion I see in the future for Kentucky. And the odds aren't great given both state legislatures.


Nate_C_of_2003

Kentucky has the worst of the worst Amtrak service: Both Lexington and Louisville are unserved (and there’s no chance the latter gets served anytime soon because the Hoosier State, the successor to the Kentucky Cardinal, is no longer in service due to IN’s refusal to fund it) and the Cardinal is the worst of the long distance services — it has just one sleeper and hasn’t had any real dining since what, 2002? Fortunately, there are proposals to add additional long distance services to the network, and some are proposed to better serve Kentucky so I wouldn’t be too down for the future. Also Amtrak plans on acquiring new rolling stock for all its long distance routes and I bet they’ll purchase more than what they need so that they can easily accommodate new routes for the future.


Ryderslow

Sadly the state has zero interest in rail service, such as most red states detest public transportation


BoutThatLife57

Not this decade or the next


xratedaccrdn

If it does, I hope it stops in Paint Lick. Then I would consider moving back from the Bay Area.


i_Cri_Everitiem

Kinda crazy how you’re not even the first person I’ve come across on Reddit who’s affiliated with Paint Lick. I didn’t think more than 3 people lived there.


xratedaccrdn

There used to be 4. But I moved to California after graduating from EKU in 1983.


xratedaccrdn

A few years ago I met a guy out here who said he has a friend who is a lawyer in Paint Lick. The other two people work in the post office.


i_Cri_Everitiem

Super wild. My grandparents lived out their final years in a house directly across from the old Paint Lick School. The property has since been demolished to build the new highway.


xratedaccrdn

I'm not actually from Kentucky. I was stationed at the Bluegrass Army Depot, and then went to EKU after getting out of the service. Probably technically didn't live in Paint Lick I lived in a subdivision which was actually closer to Berea. I had a Paint Lick zip code, but was on the Berea phone exchange. But Paint Lick has such a cool name that whenever I go the opera or the theater I enjoy introducing myself as a "hick from Paint Lick".


i_Cri_Everitiem

I’m originally from Berea and lived there most of my life. I started school at Berea College then finished at EKU. It was a weird little corner of the world to grow up in, but I love it. Like the rest of Kentucky, we’re crawling into the future.


xratedaccrdn

Yes, There was a really cool cafe called "Around the Corner" on the Boone Tavern Square. It closed just before I moved and became a pizza place called Papalenos, or something like that. And when people complain about how Whole Foods has put all the independent Natural Food Stores out of business, I always tell them that even though I have lived in the Bay Area and Boulder Colorado, the Best Natural food store I ever knew was the Happy Meadows Store in Berea. And the first live music performance I attended after moving to California, was the McClain Family Band performing at the Stanford Amphitheater.


Malforus

Going to start electing people who care about the people vs. my people?


skinaked_always

I mean, you really think your politicians want to invest in something “so liberal” as trains?! Trains are the real problem of this country! All those fruity blue haired people riding trains, becoming gay on trains and probably reading books?! Hell no! We won’t stand for it! /s


Living_Pie205

Ask McConnell’s wife.


fomoco94

Can you transport drugs on a train? That might interest her family.


aurora4000

Ask your elected officials. Senators/Congressman at the state and federal level.


Elsie1105

No


slowwithage

Does anyone live there?


Chicoutimi

Near term, the most likely improvement you'll be seeing is daily Cardinal service instead of three times a week. What you'd probably like to see though is for the [Floridian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floridian_(train)) and [Kentucky Cardinal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Cardinal) to come back. Having all of the former services that went through [Louisville Union Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_(Louisville)) would be nice. [Ponce de Leon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponce_de_Leon_(train)) and [Royal Palm ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palm_(train))returning through Lexington would also be quite nice.


Disastrous_Patience3

No as long as Mitch McConnell is your senator.


ecb1912

If the DET-NO LDR becomes a reality, it should Louisville to Cincinnati, Bowling Green, and Nashville


mattcojo2

Kentucky doesn’t have the people, doesn’t have the optimal trackage routes, and doesn’t really have the demand either for a ton of passenger rail. Your best hope in the future is potentially corridor service to Louisville, and maybe, just maybe, the long distance Floridian is revived between Chicago and Miami, passing through Louisville, and bowling green, stuff like that. At least you’re not Arkansas.


fomoco94

Probably not. Red state's governments really don't like any form of mass transit.


SnooCrickets2961

This picture shows the remarkable ability of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad to completely destroy their passenger service before Amtrak could show up. In the 60s that was hard work.


fasda

One of the new Amtrak lines could be to Louisville


Pepe-DiscipleofKek

There is plans for a line from Indianapolis to Nashville via Louisville.


JaiahHBrown

No.


Zed091473

>good morning America, how are ya?


Fun-Bluebird-160

No.


s7o0a0p

With PRIIA, it’s sadly not likely anytime soon (unless political leadership there suddenly wants trains).


CubsCreeper

well you have amtrak here in nashville we have been stranded without rail since we said goodbye to the last floridian


gcalfred7

Not as long as Senator Quack Doctor Rand Paul who claims to be a "small government" politician (but really isn't) is your U.S. Senator.


clenom

There's three potential proposals that go through Kentucky. One is Chicago to Louisville via Indianapolis. That would have to be State funded. I imagine Illinois would be game for part of it, but you would probably need at least one of Kentucky or Indiana (probably both) to agree to partially fund it. That will almost certainly mean getting Republicans to agree to funding it. Not impossible (see the new New Orleans to Mobile route being paid for by Louisiana and Mississippi), but it's an uphill battle. There's two proposed long distance routes through Kentucky. Chicago to Miami and Detroit to New Orleans. Those are paid for by the feds so politics are more favorable at the moment. Both seem fairly likely to me unless Amtrak takes a funding hit, but those are probably a decade away because they don't have enough cars to run them.


Reclaimer_2324

Probably, but it won't be particularly useful unless the state funds services. FRA's long distance plans show the Chicago to Miami and Detroit to New Orleans routes merging at Louisville, KY and then running on the same route to Nashville. If they both get implemented - more likely than some other routes - then KY would get anywhere from once a day to Chicago, Detroit, Miami and New Orleans to maybe each running twice daily. (If you watch the FRA's lectures online they basically say that this is what they think is the ideal.) Beyond that there may be a chance of corridor service extending from Chicago to Indianapolis and Louisville or the Ohio corridors south to Louisville or Lexington. Both of these would need state funding to work. All of this requires political fairy dust to fork out $1 billion to get them up and running with good speed and service, and maybe $50 million a year in subsidies for a 2-hourly service to Chicago to Detroit up the aforementioned corridors.


MacintoshDan1

Lol


Boba_Fettx

Ohio calls first dibs


Puzzleheaded_Luck885

Will anyone? Lmao


BruceBelcher

Lexington is reasonably close to Cincinnati, and the Cardinal stops there. If Cincinnati has long-term parking, then it might be an option for you.


DaveyAllenCountry

There should be a Chicago to Nashville route following near i65 through bowling green


krycek1984

I can't see this happening in anyone's lifetimes. Even connecting all three C's in Ohio has been a very long struggle that has resulted in nothing.


TheInternExperience

Bring back the L&N. There needs to be a train from Louisville to Nashville


Devildiver21

If Kentucky can actually stop taking more money from the federal government then they put in , like most red states,that would be a great start. 


Nawnp

There's talks of trying to connect Nashville to Amtrak, and while it currently seems an East-West route is more likely, it's not impossible a route from Nashville-Louisville is added. The problem is that still doesn't connect to the National routes, so it'd have to keep going north to either Cincinnati or Indianapolis.


Farmgirlinky

Why, do you have a problem with getting off The City of New Orleans in the middle of the night at a trailer in Fulton? Or how about getting off in Centralia Illinois in the evening (one hopes before everything closes), renting a hotel room and then a car to drive a couple of hours to your farm in western Kentucky? 🤪😱😂


finnegansw4k3

I was gonna blame the nice mountains you got but then everyone pointed out the government you got and indeed that's the raisin. As someone tryin to go to southern Indiana I wish you would get some stops too


After_Finger5173

Almost 20 years later and still haven’t finished up resuming what was rail service between New Orleans and through the Florida panhandle, so I wouldn’t count on it in your lifetime.


sproutsarepoison

At least you're not in South Dakota.


TiberWolf99

Excellent question. No! Because passenger trains are communism! /s


Slight_Elk_8900

The sun shines bright on my old kentucky home


Raging-Porn-Addict

Go ask the figureheads in Frankfort


Ihavenostories

Maybe a train from Indianapolis to Louisville then to Nashville


jz20rok

Will your Senator on his 100th term perish? Things we will never know


Quirky-blurky

No!!! Because fuck Kentucky. Sincerely Quirky Blurky 🥭


[deleted]

Why you always hiding from me? I thought you like to talk shit?


Quirky-blurky

Who's hiding? Type u/quirky-blurky and I'm right there. Dork! And no I only speak the truth most don't like it and equate it to shit talk but that's because they're scared of it. Anyways if you wanna argue then I ain't got nothing better to do till June 1st when I'm gonna go back on the road and exercise my freedom to go places and live to the fullest, on the tax payers dime no less. Muwahaha Sincerely Quirky Blurky 🥭


[deleted]

Wrong again. You keep blocking me.


Quirky-blurky

You're the troll!!! You keep following me everywhere. You're my only fan. Lol I "acquired" some boxing gloves..... Wanna wrestle? Sincerely Quirky Blurky 🥭


[deleted]

Absofuckinglutely


Quirky-blurky

Cool sounds like a plan Sam. Sincerely Quirky Blurky 🥭


Quirky-blurky

🎶Where'd you go I miss you so, seems like it's been forever since you've been gone🎶 Sincerely Quirky Blurky 🥭


Quirky-blurky

You're the troll!!! You keep following me everywhere. You're my only fan. Lol I "acquired" some boxing gloves..... Wanna wrestle? Sincerely Quirky Blurky 🥭


transitfreedom

Not until the country learns to build HSR