Timeline for Passenger Train Service in Chattanooga Arises

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.

The plan involves a new passenger rail system that would connect to Atlanta, Nashville and Memphis.

The backers need to raise several hundred million dollars to make it happen.

They hope the states of Georgia and Tennessee will kick in.

This is NOT the expensive mag lev proposal from year’s past.

It is a much simpler concept.

“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.”

– Ellis Smith/Mayor’s Office

They will have to devise a system to move the slower freight trains over so passenger trains can keep to a schedule.