(The following story by Eun Kyung Kim appeared on the Pensacola News Journal website on July 17, 2009
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Amtrak released a long-awaited report to Congress on Thursday that outlines options for restoring passenger rail service through North Florida.
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One of the three options listed is restoring the Sunset Limited, a tri-weekly service running from Los Angeles to Orlando.
Damage caused by Hurricane Katrina led to halting the service east of New Orleans, suspending stops at 13 stations, including those in Pensacola and Tallahassee.
The report’s second option would be extending the daily City of New Orleans route that runs from Chicago to Orlando, through New Orleans.
The third option would implement daily stand-alone overnight service between New Orleans and Orlando.
The report also breaks down projected financial and performance measures for each route.
U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd said north Florida residents have asked about the possibility of restoring service to the Panhandle.
“Congress will now fully examine these options, and I am looking forward to working closely with my colleagues in the coming months to raise awareness about the possibility of restoring this service to North Florida,” the Monticello Democrat said.
Although the Sunset Limited would have the lowest operating costs, the route also would have the lowest annual ridership. Even before Katrina, the service was ranked as one of Amtrak’s biggest money-losers.
None of the options mentioned in the Amtrak report, however, would yield a profit.
Congress now must weigh the alternatives and direct Amtrak on its next step.