$1 Million Sought To Restore NOLA-Orlando Rail

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Southern Rail Commission has applied for a $1 million federal grant to study the feasibility of restoring passenger train service between New Orleans and Orlando in central Florida.

Amtrak's Sunset Limited, which runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles, included a leg to Orlando until Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005.

New Orleans is served by two other long-distance trains: the Crescent, with daily service to Atlanta and on to New York, and the City of New Orleans, with daily service to Memphis and on to Chicago.

The New Orleans Advocate reports the commission has applied for funding from the federal Transportation Department to study the feasibility of restoring daily passenger rail service across the Gulf Coast.