Amtrak President Joe Boardman will be visiting Mississippi in early April. He will be meeting with the Governor as well as elected and business leaders in Jackson, including SRC Chairman Knox Ross, and with the Mayor of Meridian. T4A Chairman John Robert Smith and SRC Chairman Knox Ross have briefed the Governor’s staff about the current state of play of passenger rail in Mississippi, particularly focusing on the need for passenger rail to fill out the state’s highway/aviation network, as highways are becoming more congested and essential air service is being cut back.
Study: Baton Rouge - New Orleans rail service could serve 1.4 million residents and increase connectivity between Louisiana's largest cities
A study commissioned by regional transit organizations and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation says that a new passenger train service linking New Orleans and Baton Rouge on existing freight trackage, with intermediate stops and beginning as twice-daily trips, could ultimately grow to regular service with a station near New Orleans International Airport.
Louisiana delegation meets with feds over New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger rail
Photo: TED JACKSON / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE
A delegation of Louisiana representatives, including members of the Southern Rail Commission, met with federal transportation officials last week about the possibility of starting passenger rail service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.