Purchase an Amtrak ticket in April? Rail chairman says it’s possible
MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — After years of work and worry, Knox Ross, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to Amtrak returning to the Gulf Coast..
"I don't really know how it will actually be when I'm standing in Mobile to get on the train to go to New Orleans for the inaugural," he tells NBC 15 News. "And when the first ticket is sold, I think that will be the most exciting thing, when the train goes live on the Amtrak system and the first ticket is sold. That will be a lot of fun to see that. And I expect that in April. I really do. I think sometime in April we'll have that."
While ticket sales could be just a month away, officials are still predicting the first trains to leave the stations in late June.
Four long years have passed since Amtrak tossed out the idea of bringing passenger trains back between Mobile and New Orleans.
Now, tracks are upgraded, stations along the route re-established.
The talks between Amtrak and The Southern Rail Commission have changed their focus.
“Most of what we're doing now is starting to make plans for the inauguration of the service,” he says “We are working with the local tourism folks like David Clark with Visit Mobile, Coastal Mississippi, New Orleans & Company... we're having regular meetings with them, we're having regular meetings with Amtrak about operations, to talk about fares, to talk about wPurchase an Amtrak ticket in April? Rail chairman says it’s possible
After years of work and worry, Knox Ross, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to Amtrak returning to the Gulf Coast..
"I don't really know how it will actually be when I'm standing in Mobile to get on the train to go to New Orleans for the inaugural," he tells NBC 15 News. "And when the first ticket is sold, I think that will be the most exciting thing, when the train goes live on the Amtrak system and the first ticket is sold. That will be a lot of fun to see that. And I expect that in April. I really do. I think sometime in April we'll have that."
While ticket sales could be just a month away, officials are still predicting the first trains to leave the stations in late June.
Four long years have passed since Amtrak tossed out the idea of bringing passenger trains back between Mobile and New Orleans.
Now, tracks are upgraded, stations along the route re-established.
The talks between Amtrak and The Southern Rail Commission have changed their focus.
“Most of what we're doing now is starting to make plans for the inauguration of the service,” he says “We are working with the local tourism folks like David Clark with Visit Mobile, Coastal Mississippi, New Orleans & Company... we're having regular meetings with them, we're having regular meetings with Amtrak about operations, to talk about fares, to talk about what the service looks like. And those meetings almost happen on a daily basis now, but they're scheduled at least weekly."
There are two big items that still need to be completed.
One is a final governmental agreement with the state of Louisiana.
The other?
It's the empty lot on the south side of the Mobile Convention Center that will soon play host to the side track where Amtrak will load and unload its passengers, and the platform itself.
Passenger train expert Bob Johnston of Trains Magazine says, from what he's seeing of the site today, once the gravel base is established, the project could execrate quickly.
"I'm not exactly sure what stage the installation they're in right now,” he says, “but they can certainly move forward and put the tracks in once they begin putting in the ballast, which is what they call that. There's going to be a temporary platform here. I would believe the other issue is once the track gores in and is certified safe, then they can begin installing the platform."
Johnston says there is one crucial step that must be taken before the inaugural run, and that is promotion.
"When does the train leave?,” he asks. “Where does it go? How do I connect to my neighborhood, how do I use the train when I get to New Orleans, or in the case of people in New Orleans, going to Mobile or intermediate cities."
Johnston tells NBC 15 News that the promotion must go beyond Amtrak itself, an effort shared by Mobile and each stop along the three state route.hat the service looks like. And those meetings almost happen on a daily basis now, but they're scheduled at least weekly."
There are two big items that still need to be completed.
One is a final governmental agreement with the state of Louisiana.
The other?
It's the empty lot on the south side of the Mobile Convention Center that will soon play host to the side track where Amtrak will load and unload its passengers, and the platform itself.
Passenger train expert Bob Johnston of Trains Magazine says, from what he's seeing of the site today, once they gravel base is established, the project could execrate quickly.
"I'm not exactly sure what stage the installation they're in right now,” he says, “but they can certainly move forward and put the tracks in once they begin putting in the ballast, which is what they call that. There's going to be a temporary platform here. I would believe the other issue is once the track gores in and is certified safe, then they can begin installing the platform."
Johnston says there is one crucial step that must be taken before the inaugural run, and that is promotion.
"When does the train leave?,” he asks. “Where does it go? How do I connect to my neighborhood, how do I use the train when I get to New Orleans, or in the case of people in New Orleans, going to Mobile or intermediate cities."
Johnston tells NBC 15 News that the promotion must go beyond Amtrak itself, an effort shared by Mobile and each stop along the three state route.
