United Rail Passenger Alliance

Volume 3 Number 34

1. Whither the Sunset Limited, still? As noted last week, the Sunset Limited is still not operating east of New Orleans, with no announcement in sight as to when it will resume operation. The only solid information available is through a letter sent to an Amtrak union official which said the Sunset is not slated for discontinuance. That’s tough to imagine, especially since it has been a full year now since the train operated east of New Orleans prior to Hurricane Katrina.A lot of city, town, and state money went into extending the Sunset from New Orleans to Florida in 1993, including $7.5 million from the State of Florida for track upgrades, the addition of track sidings, and 80% assistance to local governments for station rehabilitations or new stations constructed. Public money in Mississippi and Alabama also went to similar purposes. No public money has ever been used for operating subsidies.

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