Good Old Steam

WASHINGTON — A proposed high-speed passenger rail line between Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN will be studied by the Georgia Department of Transportation with a $6,690,857 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and $1,172,714 from non-Federal sources. The funding will be used to prepare a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to review the need for the project, possible corridor and station locations, potential ridership figures, and whether maglev technology or conventional high-speed trains should be used. The project also involves coordination with the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

During the Civil War, the railroad was vital to Chattanooga, bringing supplies to the troops stationed in the city and also transporting reinforcements to nearby destinations.

WASHINGTON — Amtrak and First Class Motorcycle Tours have teamed up to offer two new vacation packages which include first-class accommodations on Amtrak’s Auto Train that allows motorcycle riders to travel with their bikes on board the train between Lorton, Va., south of Washington, DC and Sanford, Fla., just outside of Orlando. The motorcycles are secured in specially-designed carriers and travel in the train’s auto carriers while tour participants travel on the train in private roomette sleeping accommodations. All meals on board the train are included in the price of the tour. Both the northbound and southbound Auto Trains depart