
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 31, 1993                   TAG: 9312310113
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COUNCIL PUSHING TRAIN STUDY

Talk of Amtrak train service for Roanoke and Southwest Virginia has been out of the news in recent weeks, but the idea has not been discarded.

Roanoke City Council will ask the General Assembly during its upcoming session to provide funds for a detailed study of Amtrak service in the region.

Council will ask the city's delegation in the legislature to work with the city to help win support for passenger train service.

Amtrak and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation have agreed to conduct the study.

Roanoke wants the state legislature to support the study, which will focus on financial feasibility.

David Goode, chairman of Norfolk Southern Corp., says Amtrak service for the region is a bad idea. He doesn't believe there is sufficient demand.

Passenger service to Roanoke would be part of a new Amtrak route from New York to Atlanta.

Goode has predicted that the cost for the new route would be much higher than Amtrak's estimate of $60 million for equipment and a $10 million annual subsidy. These estimates were included in an earlier preliminary study by Amtrak.

The new study would cover the cost estimates in greater detail and would project revenue.

Mayor David Bowers has organized a lobbying campaign by localities in Southwest Virginia and Eastern Tennessee.

Bowers and other local officials have met with members of Congress to seek their support. Bowers has also met with Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson.

The new study would assess the possibility of a demonstration project for short-term service from New York to Atlanta through Virginia and Tennessee. It could provide service to Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics.

by CNB