LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Now that the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill has been signed into law, including $66 billion for passenger and freight rail, Louisville could be getting closer to seeing the return of Amtrak service.
"This bill is going to be the largest investment in rail that the country has ever seen, so in Louisville, obviously, we’d like to be on that Amtrak system," said Mayor Greg Fischer. “That will be something that we will have to compete for, but you know, imagine Amtrak running from Nashville to Louisville to Indianapolis to Chicago, all the way up and down the I-65 corridor to be able to move by rail, would be a great vision."
According to Amtrak, a federal program has to be drawn up and it will be competitive, based on local matching funds and advanced planning by state and local government.
Amtrak’s vision for expansion includes a stop in Louisville offering four round trips daily to Chicago via Indianapolis, with what the company calls "better-than-car trip-times."
"It’s just an obvious infrastructure expansion need for this city, I believe, and Amtrak’s certainly on board," said Rep. Al Gentry (D, Louisville). "They see the fit. We should work really hard to do what we can do to make this happen.”
Amtrak has not operated in Louisville since 2003, and Gentry said Kentucky has grown since then, giving tourists more reasons to visit.
“With Fourth Street Live, NULU, Yum Center, Whiskey Row, the Bourbon Trail, bourbon’s never been hotter all over the United States and this is the center of it," he said. "We’re about ready to have a fantastic (historical horse racing) casino, Churchill Downs in downtown Louisville, there’s a lot going on.”
For now, the benches in the waiting room of Louisville’s Union Station, where Amtrak used to stop, are empty. The building serves as a space for the city’s bus system.
If Amtrak service were to return to Louisville, it’s not clear if a stop would be located at Union Station again. Amtrak said it would work with the communities to figure out where they want the station to go.
Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia issued the following statement, following the signing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill:
“For 50 years, the nation has been waiting for the Federal government to provide Amtrak with the resources we need to fully deliver on our mission to serve the American people. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal fulfills this promise and we are ready to start rebuilding and expanding passenger rail to meet the service demands and sustainable transportation goals of the future. With the signing of this bill today by President Biden, the second great passenger rail revolution is here — and Amtrak and its state and federal partners are ready to lead the way.”