2008 Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act could restore the Sunset Limited Rail service

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Between Jacksonville Florida and New Orleans! :woohoo:

Rail service could return for Tallahassee residents under Amtrak proposal

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Rail travel for Tallahassee residents could return under any of three options that Amtrak has proposed in a report the national passenger rail service was required to produce under the 2008 Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act.
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Amtrak officials initially evaluated 12 alternatives for restoring service between New Orleans and Orlando. Those were narrowed to three preferred options, based on projected ridership, revenue, operating expense and operating lost.

The first is restoring the Sunset Limited as it was before, with trains traveling three times weekly between Orlando and Los Angeles. Option 2 is extending the daily City of New Orleans service, a train that travels between Chicago and New Orleans. That service would continue into Florida and terminate in Orlando. Option 3 is implementing daily stand-alone overnight service between New Orleans and Orlando. Each option assumes that the 19 stations between New Orleans and Orlando would be served by the trains.

Option 1, the return of the Sunset Limited, would require the least expense in capital costs and mobilization, at $32.7 million.

More: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090725/BREAKINGNEWS/90724020/Rail+service+could+return+for+Tallahassee+residents+under+Amtrak+proposal

I've been wanting to take a train trip for ages but since the rail lines were damaged during Katrina, the Sunset Limited service has been eliminated and we'd have to drive hundreds of miles to catch a train. And my husband wants to take a short trip before we commit to a long one - sensible man, he is. He wants to take a vacation along the Texas coast, so maybe that could be a trial trip.

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. I took the Sunset cross country a few times

I'm not up on all the pros and cons of the options, but based on my experience, it might be better to have a daily stand alone east of New Orleans. The on-time performance was a big problem (CSX and UP have somewhat bad reputations in this regard). When the train was already a few hours late getting to New Orleans, it would often get worse from there. I've arrived in L.A. 12 hours late on the Sunset. The run from Orlando to Los Angeles may be simply too long a run.

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2. We're in Tallahassee, I want to go to New Orleans for a test

My "dream" train trip would be to go to New Orleans, Minneapolis, Seattle, Vancouver, back across the Canadian Rockies and then back down the East Coast. Along the way we could make various stop overs and visit parks, etc.

That may be our big blow out trip for our 40th anniversary, which is more than a few years away. For our "honeymoon" we drove from Tallahassee to San Francisco and back, taking a month. But I think a train would be a nice change and less stressful than driving when we're older - maybe.

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. Sounds like a great trip

The one thing I've learned is, if possible, plan on overnight layovers (Spend a night or two in rather than try to make a same day connection). One thing I hate is getting pulled off the train and put in a bus to make a connection. It also breaks up the trip into more enjoyable chunks.

I also take a compact self-inflating camp mattress when I get a sleeper to supplement the bunk. The beds are not quite soft enough for my taste.

My favorite thing about long distance train trips is meeting and talking to people on the train. Something that has largely vanished from air travel and non-existent on automobile trips.

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4. Yes, that is what I thought - short hops with rests between

One advantage for me with train travel - I do needlework but planes are now too cramped and there is a chance they will declare a 1" needle a "dangerous weapon" and take it away. I can stitch in a car, so why not in a train? It'd probably be easier since the train would not start and stop and veer as much.

Thanks for the tip about the camp mattress!

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. I've never tried needlework, but...

I'm not sure how it would work out on a train. Depends on the condition of the tracks. In some places there can be quite a bit of rock and roll. Trains have a rather unique rhythm that personally, I find restful, but takes a bit of getting used to.

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7. I found that canvas work with larger holes is best for car/truck travel

And I figure if I can do it while being driven down dirt roads while the truck is pulling a horse trailer, I can probably do it on a train. If my eyes are shot by the time we take a train trip, I'll buy rug canvas (five stitches to the inch) and make a rug. Whatever, I will stitch!

When we drove to California, I got bored by the time we got to Mobile so we stopped at a shop there and bought a needlepoint canvas which I started right away as we left town. I finished it as we drove back into Mobile on the way home. Every time I look at that picture (Mucha Job poster), I remember that trip.

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6. That's a great idea

the self inflating mattress. I travel - train only - w/ inflatable pillows, one regular & one king which I use as a body pillow for my back. They are aero bed products and are well made.

I love the adventure of meeting new people on the train. Every time I go to the dining car, I'm having a meal w/ a new person or two. It's great.