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New Orleans-to-Baton Rouge rail link has support, big obstacles

Trains would travel along tracks used for carrying freight stopping at up to seven possible stations, at a top speed of 79 mph. Instead of traveling back and forth up to eight times a day, there would be a morning train leaving in both directions, and an evening train taking passengers home, per revised plans.

July 15, 2015
New Orleans-to-Baton Rouge rail link has support, big obstacles

I-10 Bridge across the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge, La. Photo: Steven Martin/Flickr

1 min to read


NEW ORLEANS — After years of political hurdles, plans for a dedicated passenger train from New Orleans to Baton Rouge may be back on track, The Times-Picayune reported.

Now that Governor Bobby Jindal is leaving office, supporters of the plan have regrouped with a new plan scaled back from its high-speed predecessor. Trains would still travel along tracks used for carrying freight stopping at up to seven possible stations, at a top speed of 79 mph.  Instead of traveling back and forth up to eight times a day, there would be a morning train leaving in both directions, and an evening train taking passengers home, according to the report.

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Those changes, according to officials, would significantly cut the initial need for subsidies to a more digestible $6.7 million a year. But with fewer daily trips, could present a risk to attracting a ridership expected to generate around $2 million a year toward the route's operations budget, The Times-Picayune said.

For the full story, click here.

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