Phase 1 of Passenger Railroad Study Complete

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs released more than 200 pages of findings on a potential train service. Jim Byard with ADECA says in short, the study explains the infrastructure of the service.

“They’ve actually gone in and done an initial report of ‘could you run a track parallel to 65’, kind of new tracks and the cost of that.”

The study also shows who might ride the train, how much they’re willing to pay and which cities it would stop in. The service would run from Birmingham to Montgomery, with stops along the way, including one in Elmore County. Some say they would consider taking a train if it were available.

“I mean, I never took a train before but that wouldn’t be nothing I wouldn’t be interested in,” says Robert Jackson.

“I love trains,” says Montgomery resident Katrace Trivlett. “I like to do a lot of country seeing on the trains.”

A one-way ticket to Birmingham would range from 25 to 30 dollars with stops in between ranging from 2.50 to eight dollars. Some drivers say to them the cost isn’t worth it.

“I just simply wouldn’t because I like the transportation of my car,” says Michael Gregory.

The study finds there will soon be an increase in population and employment in all cities with stops, except Birmingham, suggesting that a train service would be needed. Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis, who also serves as the Vice Chair of Metropolitan Planning says he’s been working with other city leaders to try to make a train service happen.

“I think it would be an asset to all of us to have that,” he says. “I would imagine that it would really help the town of Elmore.”

Byard says it will help others as well by alleviating traffic.

“Anything that might relieve some of I-65 certainly we ought to be looking at.”