A new report from the Chattanooga Mayor’s office indicates that plans for a new passenger rail connecting Chattanooga to Atlanta, Memphis and Nashville and more might be in the works soon. According to WDEF Chattanooga,
The city has put a timeline for the return of passenger train service to Chattanooga… Ellis Smith in the Mayor’s office told city council members that it could happen in five to seven years, if the money falls into place.
Keep scrolling for all the details!
Wait a second. I think I’ve heard this one before.
No, no. Not the OLD plan. This is a new plan.
In years past, Chattanooga had focused on a plan to create a MagLev high-speed train in the middle of I-75 between Chattanooga and Atlanta. That plan was expensive and difficult to plan, and eventually, a bust. This new plan utilizes existing rails, making it much cheaper and more feasible.
In fact, Smith says that if the money falls into place, the plan could happen as quickly as five to seven years.
Ellis Smith says,
Using the existing rails that today already connect Chattanooga, Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville. There are CSX trains right now, this minute, as we speak, that are transporting stuff that you use every day between those cities. What we are proposing to do is very simple. Use that rail that we have right now and put passenger trains on it.
Passenger rail backers would still need to raise several hundred million more dollars to make this plan a reality, but they’re hopeful that the states of Georgia and Tennessee will pitch in some cash.
Would it be faster than driving?
It depends. The passenger rail would probably only go about 70 mph, since it’s not expected to be a high speed rail, according to The Chattanoogan. But instead of sitting in traffic, worrying about things outside of your control… you could sit back and watch the beautiful scenery pass on a train! Sounds like a pretty good deal to us!