Amtrak...YES in Louisianna an Mississippi...not so much in Alabama

 

Today's Washington Post reports on a struggle by Amtrak to expand service to pre-Katrina levels along the Gulf Coast:

"Support for Amtrak is widespread in Louisiana — home to a terminus stop in New Orleans — and across Mississippi, where four of the six stations would be located. Local officials tout the return of Amtrak as an economic asset to boost tourism and an alternative to traffic-clogged highways.

Alabama leaders, however, say their port, shippers and freight customers would suffer from disruptions to a tightly managed schedule of freight trains. Alabama House leader Mac McCutcheon (R) told the STB he is also concerned the state might have to foot the cost of Amtrak’s passenger operations.

The office of Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson declined to comment for this story."

 

FULL WaPo story is HERE.