Amtrak’s 2035 Plan for the Southeastern Corridors

[@MrMarshmallow26]

I'm looking forward to the expansions in Virginia. Main Street Station has so much potential and will act almost as a "crossroads" between northeastern and southeastern locations. I hope that the long-distance trains will eventually be rerouted to Main Street so that passengers can disembark closer to Downtown Richmond. The S-Line project may make that possible since the station will likely see capacity enhancements from the project. It would also be nice if a frequent shuttle train (something like the Valley Flyer) could be established between Richmond - Newport News and Richmond - Norfolk. This way, more frequent service can be offered to Hampton Roads locations without necessarily extending a full train to the stations, and the shuttle can connect riders with more frequent service passing through Richmond.

[@davidjackson7281]

The additional trains could be great were the average speed to increase atleast 50% from 50 mph to 75 mph so that they are close to or exceed travel times for cars.

[@nazmul_khan_]

Bring Sunset Limited to Florida!!!!!!

[@writtwoodson6879]

Thank you for bringing more attention to passenger rail in the Southeast. Eighteen (18) states participate in the Amtrak/State Partnership program. It means that 18 states help to fund passenger rail. Virginia and North Carolina are included. That is why you will see the realization of projects in Virginia and North Carolina. Atlanta should be a great passenger railway hub, but the state of Georgia will not spend a dime, and you won't see anything happen there. North Carolina built the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) in the 1850s. The state still owns it. NCRR runs from Charlotte to Morehead City. Construction of the S line has started between Raleigh and Wake Forest. The S line will run at 110 mph (max) between Raleigh and Petersburg. The Raleigh to Wilmington NC route does not have any major roadblocks. The fabulous Raleigh Union Station has already seen multiple increases in service. The Commonwealth of Virginia got smart. Highway widening has limits and they have been hit. Thanks.

[@MrMarshmallow26]

Only thing I wonder is what Raleigh will do with Union Station to accommodate the S-Line trains, whether they'll build a new platform on another part of the wye or if the trains will have to clear the wye then reverse onto the existing platform tracks. Richmond Main Street Station is simpler project which just includes reactivating a platform on the opposite end of the existing active platform. I hope Virginia will take advantage of the S-Line project to also support added capacity projects and bring long distance trains to Main Street station, bringing more passengers closer to Downtown Richmond on a single train.

[@sannh]

I live close to Tampa, and we desperately need more frequent train service. In fact, it would be wonderful if Amtrak could be extended further west to St Petersburg.

[@MirzaAhmed89]

Down to Sarasota would be nice too.

[@lonzeo]

I think the Salisbury to Asheville line will be postponed due to the damages from Helene on the rail lines.

[@GREATTRAINSPEED]

looked like it, but officials seemed to be positive. There's a post (archived) talked about that: archive.is/WMkao

[@lonzeo]

They need to make a direct Amtrak service from Charlotte to Wilmington that connects west to east and not have to go up to Raleigh. There’s already a train line we’d just need to work with CSX

[@bobinyec]

That's Wilmington, NORTH CAROLINA, to Raleigh - not Wilmington, DELAWARE.

[@RailMan102_Productions]

Is this Atlanta to Nashville Lane on their own line, or are they gonna be running on freight lines?

[@GREATTRAINSPEED]

sadly the freight lines owned by CSX Transportation

[@dennisc6716]

If you've ever wondered if there is a big difference between North and South Carolina, just think of how much rail news you heard about one in just this video compared to how much you never, ever hear about the other one. Sometimes I think they only have half a name in common.

[@TrainMike2013]

The Gulf coast line needs to get to Orlando if it's to bring in more riders. This Mobile proposal is a waste of money, just restore the entire route. No longer will people need to go roundabout to get to the south. It would increase more people on the Silver route and the Floridian. CSX got federal money after the hurricane years ago to restore service so let Amtrak back on it.

[@bobinyec]

The Carolinian goes through Raleigh, not Lynchburg.

[@wmoscati]

Anyone else notice the visual while talking about Wilmington, NC had a Septa train for it? .... Wrong Wilmington lol septa is DE

[@GREATTRAINSPEED]

Noted! Thanks for the clarification :)

[@triadrailfanproductions]

Winston Salem-Greensboro

[@scottsteward398]

Where are they going to get the equipment? It took them over a decade to get a 100 viewliners. And since Katrina, we still don’t have service resumed along the gulf coast. The freight partners don’t want additional passenger trains. The national long distance network is in shambles. No capacity due to lack of equipment and continuous locomotive failures. Horrible on time performance. I’m all for a successful Amtrak, but these “corridor” concepts will happen at the detriment of the long distance trains.

[@GREATTRAINSPEED]

the Gulf Coast is already on track this year!

[@maestromecanico597]

Amtrak has 83 "Airo" sets on order with options for more so the equipment is available if there is money. As for the long-distance trains Amtrak is playing the long game: benign neglect until the last of those who remember what a long-distance train is passes away and the LD trains with them. They've been playing this hand for over a half-century.