35 municipalities, 48 online counties, and many local and state organizations, businesses and politicians have joined the two heavy hitters: the Southern Rail Commission for the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and the I-20 Corridor Council for the state of Texas. The I-20 Corridor Council has Amtrak, TXDOT, Union Pacific, and the many local organizations behind it. The Southern Rail Commission has such notables as the governors of each state, several US senators and representatives, mayors, 6 appointed delegates from each state, state DOTs, and many others.Backshop
If the online cities aren't behind it, why is Amtrak even suggesting it?
Together in 2015, they requested that Amtrak do a feasibility study. This confidential report can be found on i-20corridorcouncil.com It found that a daily train from Meridian, MS to Fort Worth, TX and back would result in 107,000 annual passengers and would have a positive cash flow, meaning that no payments were required by the states.
The 531 mile schedule westward was Meridian 3:18 pm CT, Jackson 5:01, Vicksburg 5:55, Monroe, Ruston, Shreveport 9:22, Marshall 10:31, Longview 10:58, Mineola.11:49, Dallas 1:22 am, Fort Worth 2:34 am. The schedule eastward was Fort Worth 11:00 pm CT, Dallas 11:57 pm, Mineola 1:32 am, Longview 2:21, Marshall 3:08, Shreveport 4:17, Ruston, Monroe, Vicksburg 7:19, Jackson 8:13, Meridian 10:16. Note that stops at Monroe and Ruston were added later in 2017.
In looking at the ‘City of New Orleans’ schedule, it would appear that that the dogleg Dallas to/from New Orleans could be good. The dogleg Dallas to/from Memphis would require a wait. The dogleg Atlanta to Memphis could be good, but the dogleg Memphis to Atlanta looks bad. Doglegs Little Rock to/from New Orleans/Atlanta also look bad. San Antonio/Oklahoma eastward requires a wait, and westward to San Antonio/Oklahoma requires lodging for the night.
In 2017 TXDOT with consultants analyzed what was required to get an Amtrak train operating from Meridian to Fort Worth. 21 miles of sidings with a cost of $84 million and $7.5 million in new or improved stations was the conclusion.
Fast forward to 2022, Amtrak has money from the IIJA, an understanding of cooperation from Canadian Pacific, and a shovel ready project. Amtrak also has plans for rail projects around Atlanta and the Dallas Houston San Antonio triangle. Get this one done, lavish praise on CP and UP for their cooperation, thank the governors, senators, mayors, and organizations for their support, and go on to the next project. Let the newspapers be filled with good news and accomplishments.
