JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
The city of Chattanooga, following ongoing debates, may potentially receive new passenger trains within the community.
Chattanooga’s ongoing efforts to bring passenger trains to the city first began in 2024, city officials aiming to connect the city to three other cities within a brand new rail system: Atlanta, Nashville, and Memphis. The first phase of the project was publicly announced to be coming towards a close, ensuring one step closer towards the city’s goal of providing new ways of travel for Tennesseans within the region.
The project’s near completion of its first phase came to light during a recent Rotary Club meeting, where city mayor Tim Kelly publicly detailed that a non-profit organization modeled similarly to the city’s Area Chamber of Commerce would be developed to further spearhead the ongoing project. Additionally, the Sunbelt-Atlantic Connector, a new interconnected rail line proposed by passenger rail line company Amtrak, is set to become the main line, which will help link Chattanooga, Atlanta, Nashville, and Memphis together within a new, large-scale rail system. The project is not only aiming to bring a new way of transportation to residents of the surrounding area, but also to help reduce traffic congestion, boost tourism, and provide further economic growth to Chattanooga.
Through grant funds and logistical studies, the project is making its way towards its second phase, setting the stage for the next step in bringing passenger trains to the Gig City.
Photo by Amtrak Media