[varina davis]

As an avid AMTRAK traveler, I’m so disappointed that all long distance travel from Florida west is now discontinued unless you take the train north from Jacksonville to DC, NY and then northwest to Chicago where you must choose a route northwest, southwest or west to the west coast.

My halcyon days of traveling to California, Oregon, etc. via the Sunset Limited and Coast Starlight are long gone due to an AMTRAK accident in an Alabama bayou many years ago that was never repaired — thus, no more west bound trains from Jax west.

Train travel with a sleeper (a must have for long distance) is pricey, but the comfort, safety and experiences of train travel is well worth it. Florida is now an AMTRAK unwanted step-child.

[BBell]

I just checked and there is the Sunset Limited from New Orleans west to Los Angeles but you have to take a bus from Jacksonville to here. There was a article in the local paper (06/16) that stated that opening up a route from Orlando to New Orleans was being studied but apparently it is still being studied.

Bummer.