Passenger rail service coming to Atmore?

Atmore resident Jerry Gehman said he's optimistic that daily passenger rail service between New Orleans and Atmore will happen in the wake of a recently-passed federal government spending bill that contains money and grants to restore passenger rail service.

Gehman, who serves on the Southern Rail Commission, said while he hopes the plan will eventually provide passenger rail service from New Orleans to Orlando and possibly north, he said the first step will be to get the service from New Orleans to Mobile and then to Atmore.

Part of the spending bill includes $20 million in grants to restore or enhance passenger rail service that was destroyed by natural disasters.

Gehman said what makes him optimistic is the rail commission asked for $10 million and got $20 million.

The bill also includes $592 million in a Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant program.

Gehman estimates it will take $73 million to restore twice-daily service from New Orleans to Atmore, but noted it will also take state tax dollars to make the plan work.

Gehman has worked for many years to restore passenger rail service since the Sunset Limited stopped.

"I'm ecstatic," Gehman said. "This gives us the first real opportunity. This is the closest we've been to getting service from New Orleans to Atmore."

He said the Southern Rail Commission is currently negotiating with officials in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana and it hopes to have financial commitments to support passenger rail service in the next month or so.

"Our focus is to get with our governors," Gehman said.

He noted the most favorable route is from New Orleans to Mobile, but he's fighting for Atmore. He said one of the problems is the rail congestion in the Port of Mobile.

"It will take about $17 million to bring it from Mobile to Atmore," Gehman said. "It's a great economic opportunity for Atmore and Escambia County."

He also said feasibility studies are being done to take the route north to Montgomery and Birmingham.

"I'm excited," Gehman said. "We still have some hurdles, but they are getting lower."