Cost of CSX Rail Deal Jumps to $1.25 Billion

[thelakelander]

Evidently, Caltrain's line between San Francisco and San Jose (shown above) is operated by Amtrak as well.  Here are a few other commuter rail systems operated by Amtrak employees:

Amtrak strike could cripple commuter rail service
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/01/15/amtrak_strike_could_cripple_commuter_rail_service/

Virginia Railway Express (VRE) - DC's Union Station to Virginia suburbs


MARC Penn Line - DC to Baltimore


Shore Line East - New Haven,CT to New London, CT

[stephendare]

caltrain rocks.

When I was out west, you could take public transit from sf to vancouver bc.

Here you cant get from orange park to macclenny.

[thelakelander]

Recreational Trails Unlikely To Become Railroad Again

By Tom Palmer
THE LEDGER

Published: Monday, July 7, 2008 at 10:25 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, July 7, 2008 at 11:48 a.m.
 
BARTOW | It is unlikely that the recreational trail system stretching from Auburndale into the Green Swamp will revert to a railroad line to reroute freight or passenger traffic, the County Commission was told today.

There has been some speculation that the Auburndale-TECO Trail and the Van Fleet Trail, both of which lie on former railroad routes, could become active rail lines again as an alternate to increased train traffic through downtown Lakeland in connection with the proposed commuter rail and the Winter Haven rail freight terminal projects.

Commissioner Jean Reed asked about the possibility in connection with a discussion of the planned recreational complex on Auburndale’s north side along the Auburndale-TECO trail.

“I highly doubt it, based on conversations with people in Tallahassee,’’ said Mark Jackson, head of tourism and sports marketing.

Tom Deardorff, the county’s growth management director, said one of the points Polk County is asking a Florida Department of Transportation consultant studying alternate rail routes is to look at the impact on statewide and regional trail systems.

There will be a public meeting Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bartow Civic Center to provide Jacobs Engineering, the DOT consultant, with public input on the study.

In addition, there are multiple property owners along the route that could make a reversion difficult, said Wade Allen, the county’s right of way agent.

Commissioner Bob English said he spoke with CSX officials recently at a meeting in Tampa and was told the corporation was not interested in that corridor.

English said he would oppose any attempt to close the trails.

“It would be over my dead body,’’ he said.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20080707/NEWS/722545785/1410&title=Recreational_Trails_Unlikely_To_Become_Railroad_Again