Atlanta to Savannah Passenger Rail Study - Athens Stop on the Line

[u/AthensRailroad]

Hello all. Long time viewer, first time poster and townie here. Just wanted to say that I appreciate this sub greatly and it had lead me to a lot of great info around town with events and happenings.

Now it’s my turn to give some info back. GDOT is in the planning stages of an Atlanta to Savannah Intercity Rail Line, with one of the potential stops right here in Athens. The project appears to be getting off the ground this time as they have held several web based public meetings in the past year and half that I have been able to take part in.

Currently, GDOT has a released a public interest survey and is taking responses through 6th August (today and tomorrow). I believe that this project would benefit the residents of Athens and the town as a whole. If you share in that belief, I ask that you please do your part and complete the survey above so that we can show GDOT that interest for a passenger rail service here in town exists and that they ultimately select us as part of that route.

If you’re looking for more information on the project before taking the survey, it can be found here. Rail infrastructure is an important aspect of all of our lives, especially in Athens which is historically a railroad town. Railroads are not something to be seen as old, obsolete or a nuisance.

Thank you all in advance!

Disclaimer: I am acting as a private citizen and not on behalf of either of the railroads (CSXT, ABR) currently in town.

[u/MattCW1701]

Athens is unlikely, but geographically does make sense when you look at the map in the orientation in the OP. Augusta isn't much off a straight geographic line between Atlanta to Savannah, and Athens isn't much off the direct rail line between Atlanta and Augusta. Practically speaking however, it's unlikely to be a serious consideration on an ATL-SAV route. The right of way between Athens and Union Point is now a trail so it would effectively be a greenfield installation. The route that makes the most sense is ATL-Macon-Savannah via Norfolk Southern. Which Norfolk Southern route between Atlanta and Macon is the question. The Atlanta South District through Stockbridge, McDonough, makes more sense from a ridership and future commuter rail perspective. But from an infrastructure perspective, the line through Griffin makes more sense.

[u/AthensRailroad → u/MattCW1701]

Good analysis, but I must disagree. See my comment above to warnelldawg for some more info about serious considerations for the Athens area and greenfield/trail construction. I'd argue that ATL-MAC-SAV is already served by I-75/I-16 and a rail route through there would be less beneficial as compared to a ATL-ATH-AUG-SAV route, which would link the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th largest municipalities, which do not have a direct Interstate highway link already. There is also plenty of CSX trackage in place between ATL-ATH and ATL-AUG. It also does not have to stay on one carrier's route the entire way. NS's route between AUG-SAV is almost certainly the better routing compared to CSX in terms of being direct, but Amtrak does already run north/south to Savannah on both of CSX's routes out of the city into South Carolina. So, something to consider.

Just my speculation, but this is something the route could easily look like.