brianpmcdonnell17
Conductor
I agree that a CONO extension would be much more successful than a stand-alone train, but unless I missed something that possibility has not been eliminated entirely. I am aware the SL will not be extended; I did not mention that. If it does end up being a CONO extension, isn't it most likely that the name will remain the same? The TE only has two thru-cars running on an entirely separate LD train and it still retains the name. In both cases, the namesake city/state is a major intermediate point but not the endpoint for the entire train.No. Just no.It would either be an extension of the City of New Orleans or a stand-alone service of an unknown name.... what would the restored segment be named (if it even comes to fruition)?
The Sunset Limited would be restored to what it was before?
An extension of the City of New Orleans or ...?
Or something totally different?
Brian, you should reread the Amtrak study. The final recommendation is for extending some of the City of New Orleans cars to Orlando. (It also proposed a corridor train to run New Orleans-Biloxi-Mobile. The corridor train would require state support, so don't hold your breath.)
A stand-alone train New Orleans-Jacksonville/Orlando would be a big loser -- passenger loser, money loser, and require more equipment. Not going to happen. Get it out of your head.
Re-extending the Sunset Ltd again would be a big loser. It's been tried and failed.
The long route had miserable time-keeping. A little delay near Yuma could throw things off for the next 2,000 miles and delay the train by a full day by the time it got to Florida! At best, the Sunset's arrivals and departures east of New Orleans were the post-midnight pits.
The new study has worked out a schedule that works New Orleans-Biloxi-Mobile before midnight, puts the unsignaled big empty Pensacola-Tallahassee stretch overnight, and has good times in Jacksonville and Orlando, with good connection north and south.
The locals who know the schedule issue best seem to support the new proposal enthusiastically.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
I don't think a name for this segment has been discussed, much less decided.
Maybe they will have a name-the-train contest like Missouri did to get the "River Runner".
Sent from my SM-J327P using Amtrak Forum mobile app