SRC: Expect visible progress on I-20 Amtrak route in the next 2-3 years

Progress continues on the train route that will follow the I-20 corridor between Texas and Mississippi, giving people an alternate way to travel.

The Federal Railroad Administration has announced a grant to study a long-distance train ride impacting millions of people traveling between Dallas-Fort Worth and Meridian, Miss. along the I-20 corridor that passes right through the ArkLaTex. Planned stops include Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe.

Area residents think it’s better to have different ways to travel.

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The Breakdown: Amtrak full steam ahead on three rail lines in Louisiana

In your Breakdown: We could be just months away from connecting New Orleans to Mobile by train.

Amtrak is chugging along on three total routes in Louisiana. Company representatives gave an update to the City Council Transportation Committee Tuesday.

They say that starting this summer, there will be morning and evening trains daily between New Orleans and Mobile, with stops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and connections to other parts of the country.

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Purchase 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."

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Rep. Hinson introduces bill that could lead to new rail system connecting Florida to Louisiana

A new state bill introduced by a Gainesville lawmaker would make Florida a part of the Southern Rail Commission.

Sponsored by State Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, D-Gainesville, Hinson wrote that since September 2005, North Florida has lacked rail service due to the impacts from Hurricane Katrina, which damaged Amtrak's Sunset Limited route and previously connected New Orleans to Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Orlando. The route still connects New Orleans to Los Angeles.

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Rep. Hinson introduces bill that could lead to new rail system connecting Florida to Louisiana

A new state bill introduced by a Gainesville lawmaker would make Florida a part of the Southern Rail Commission.

Sponsored by State Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, D-Gainesville, Hinson wrote that since September 2005, North Florida has lacked rail service due to the impacts from Hurricane Katrina, which damaged Amtrak's Sunset Limited route and previously connected New Orleans to Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Orlando. The route still connects New Orleans to Los Angeles.

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CSX says it is working ‘expeditiously’ on Mobile train stop

Contractors are doing preliminary work on a new passenger train stop downtown, but there still is no definitive timeline on when the project will be complete.

A federal grant is paying for CSX Corp. to construct a temporary platform next to the Arthur Outlaw Mobile Convention Center for an Amtrak stop and a sidetrack where the train will park overnight.

“All stakeholders are working to begin Gulf Coast passenger service as expeditiously as possible,” company spokesman Austin Staton said in an email. “I can confirm that CSX does have contractors on site, and they have been doing clearing and grading work.”

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