Jerry Summers
Ever since the last passenger train pulled out of the Terminal Station aka The Chattanooga Choo Choo (soon to be a secondary part of the complex which is becoming a national hotel chain) in the late 1960s prognosticators have predicted the return of the former glory days to non I-24/I-75 traffic jams that occur on a daily basis.
Although the Union Station is now the site of the Tallan Financial Center/UBS Bank and no tracks run out of the home of the Glen Miller world famous song from the movie “Sun Valley Serenade” in 1941 they anticipate using the existing freight lines of CSX and Northrop Southern Railroads. Based on prior historical data the railroads are not the easiest entities to work with to rearrange their travel schedules to accomodate passenger trains.
However freight railroads are required by the Rail Passenger Services Act of 1970 to allow Amtrak to use their tracks. Additional usage, safety issues and responsibility for accidents, etc. may all present additional issues that will arise.
However the Tennessee Department of Transportation on July 3, 2023 recommended in a state report to “study the feasibility of establishing the proposed Nashville to Atlanta” route.
The Tennessee Journal, “the weekly newsletter on Tennessee government and politics”, in Vol. 49, No. 26, on July 7, 2023 projects a cautious and slightly optimistic outlook on the latest effort to bring back some rolling traffic relief and chance for onboard liquid refreshments unless the Tennessee General Assembly enacts a tough R.U.I. (Riding Under Influence) law.
A potential problem expressed by a local legislator stated. “If and when federal dollars become available for new rail lines to accommodate passenger service we need to be prepared for Tennessee to be a part of the planning and implementation.”
(It may be ready on a time line similar to the new Chickamauga Dam lock on the Tennessee River!)
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You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com