New York Could Get A New Train Route Straight To Houston
A new train route that could connect New York to Houston was recently proposed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)—just in time for Beyonce’s new album!
The entire FRA proposal hopes to expand options for the nation’s long-distance train network using existing rail corridors. Restoring and expanding long-distance connections would hopefully increase community transportation options and provide economic and social benefits.
Long-distance routes are defined by journeys of 750 miles or more. Amtrak‘s current 15 long-distance routes serve almost half of the +500 Amtrak stations. Many routes on the proposal either existed prior to Amtrak, or operated when the company was first founded and had eventually been decommissioned. Some portions of the suggested route segments haven’t serviced passenger trains in 60 years!
Of course, the route we’re most interested in details a path between New York and Houston. Though some portions of this proposed route are already being serviced via Amtrak (such as Houston – New Orleans on the Sunset Limited route and Roanoke – New York on the Northeast Corridor), there’s no direct Amtrak train that runs between the two cities. Current train routes from NYC to Houston take over two days and require at least one change.
To make the new route possible, Amtrak would need to extend the Crescent route on the historic Louisville & Nashville. Along the way, passengers would pass through Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Lorton, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Montgomery, Mobile, New Orleans.
An additional route affecting New York would bring service between the Big Apple and Dallas, Texas. According to the FRA, “The proposed route would use the current Heartland Flyer segment to Oklahoma City, and then the historic Frisco line (now BNSF) through Springfield, Mo. to St. Louis. It would then follow the route of the National Limited (discontinued in 1979) to Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvanian route to New York.”
Find out more about the other proposed long-distance routes in the study.
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