TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)-- AMTRAK service could rolling back into town sooner than you think.
Tallahassee Mayor John Marks says AMTRAK officials are coming around to the idea of reinstating rail service.
marks believes AMTRAK passenger service coming back to the area is on track.
Mayor John Marks says, "There is a new dynamic in play this at a work group session, the fact AMTRAK has come to the table they are asking for a plan from the region to restore passenger service to that route."
Experts say AMTRAK is in financial trouble and officials there don't believe service between Jacksonville to New Orleans would make money.
Mayor Marks says, "The focus has changed to the extent the focus is on economic development opportunities in various cities and how passenger rail can help those economic opportunities."
Some say rail service would be the perfect compliment to the Gaines Street project and businesses.
Bart Bibler, Florida Coalition Of Rail Passengers Association says, "Most of that has begun around Gaines Street area. This would be the missing link we don't have passenger rail."
The Tallahassee stop sits in between FAMU and FSU.
students say they would love to use the rail service.
Chandler Ford says, "It is difficult to get cheap flights out of Tallahassee. So having a train that goes to Jacksonville or in Florida could be easier than trying to find a ride to Jacksonville every time I want to fly home."
Right now if you want to take AMTRAK to New Orleans,
you have to drive from Tallahassee to Jacksonville take AMTRAK to North Carolina then over to New Orleans.
