Amtrak Invests in New Atlanta Intercity Rail Hub
An annual report by Amtrak disclosed its request for close to $30 million in federal funding to develop a new intercity rail hub in Atlanta. Although eager about Atlanta’s potential as a key hub location, Amtrak hasn’t yet divulged specific details about its location within the city.
Significance of the New Hub
This new station earmarks Atlanta as a prospective site for a significant rail hub that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The new hub not only seeks to resurrect Atlanta’s historical prominence in the railway industry but bolsters Amtrak’s national expansion and employment drive. Despite risks of potential development, Amtrak describes the proposed location as being in downtown Atlanta.
Amtrak’s Statement and Plans
In a statement, Amtrak expressed its enthusiasm to collaborate with local, state, federal, and railroad partners to secure an optimal site for an improved and expanded Amtrak station in Atlanta. Three Atlanta-centered rail corridors have been accepted into the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development program, which adds credibility to Amtrak’s plans for the city.
Securing the necessary funding will support the planning and design process, and advance the project towards creating a station that meets the customer’s needs and is worthy of a major metropolitan region.
Funding Considerations
The $29.9 million grant requested by Amtrak is earmarked for property acquisition to preserve the future railroad right-of-way and facilitate connection with the existing main line track. Early phase prerequisites such as engineering work and the project clearance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) also have been factored into this funding request. However, the total estimated cost of the new Atlanta facility is approximately $700 million, which includes new trackage to separate passenger service from freight operations.
Historical and Modern Significance of Atlanta as a Rail Hub
In recent years, Amtrak has shown interest in revitalizing Atlanta’s position as a leading rail hub, with routes projecting out to various cities including Charlotte, Nashville, Macon, Montgomery, Birmingham, Savannah, among others. Currently, Atlanta is serviced only by the New York City-to-New Orleans Crescent line.
The modernized station would enhance the customer experience on the Crescent route. It would also link Atlanta with new intercity passenger trains to numerous cities of varying sizes, thereby reaffirming its historical significance as a major rail hub.
Atlanta City Council’s Involvement
The Atlanta City Council in 2022 passed a resolution urging Amtrak to consider downtown Atlanta as a potential location for a rail hub. Meanwhile, as onset development begins to take shape at Centennial Yards, the Atlanta City Council continues to express interest in the potential of a key intercity rail hub in the heart of downtown.
The Current State of Atlanta’s Amtrak Station
The existing Amtrak station in Atlanta, built in 1918, is located in a suburban area and was designed to cater for a small number of passengers. The station has multiple drawbacks including lack of parking, no connections to local transit, an undersized waiting room, and poor access to the single platform below, which poses a particular challenge for persons with disabilities.
Amtrak’s System Modernization and Future Growth
This funding request for the Atlanta hub comes at a time when Amtrak is soliciting for a total of $4 billion in grants to address base needs and modernize its system, particularly as passenger numbers are expected to surge. According to CEO Stephen Gardner, Amtrak anticipates its ridership to reach nearly 35 million in the fiscal year 2025 and grow to 66 million annual passengers by the year 2040.
