I am hearing rumors that the CofG Atlanta-Macon Line is about to be rebuilt for Georgia's new Commuter Passenger Rail Service. My question to anyone that lives along this Line or who knows what is really going on, Is this true that they are rebuilding the Line and is it also true, if they are indeed rebuilding the line, that the C-Line may be re-connected for use by either NS for by-pass freight traffic or to be used also for the Commuter Passenger Rail Service? I appreciate any info anyone can provide. And for the record, a couple of weeks ago I spotted a few gondolas full of new ties parked on the C-Line in Newnan. I'm assuming they are getting ready to replace a few bad ties so they can lift the 10 MPH speed restriction that is in force right now on the line.

Jonathan Vanover "In all of your getting, get understanding." Proverbs 4:7

-- Jonathan Vanover (jvanover30263@yahoo.com), October 15, 2002

Answers

For the most complete information on the Macon-Atlanta commuter rail service and other GRTA projects (like Atlanta-Charlotte or Atlanta-JAX) I suggest visiting the offical GRTA website at www.garail.com

-- Carl Anderson (CarlWAnderson@yahoo.com), October 21, 2002.

Jonathan,

I live outside of Barnesville and drive to work in Griffin each day along the section of the NS line through Milner and Orchard Hill up to Griffin. The Griffin Daily News ran a story last week about a meeting in Griffin of all the governmental leaders, officials, transportation people, etc. for Atlanta through Macon, detailing the current plans and projected starting dates for the Georgia Commuter Rail service between Macon and Atlanta. They had been projecting a start date of 2004 but that has been pushed back to 2005.

The line seems to be in good shape for it's current use, local freight traffic, but it will need some major work to be able to handle the 70mph the GRTA (Georgia Regional Transporation Authority) or as the Republicans in the legislature called it, "Giving Roy Total Authority") is planning. They are planning to use double decker commuter coaches, something like the Chicago MERTA line and run trains of 4 to 5 coaches.

Most of the line from Macon to Atlanta is single main line. GRTA is planning to build 3 passing sections to the existing line, which will remain the property of Norfolk Southern.

I'm not sure what the C-line is, but if it is the line from Griffin to Senoia, that line is not included in the GRTA planning at this point.

Currently, the plan is that the trains will start in Macon and make stops in Bolingbroke, Forsyth, Barnesville, Griffin, Hampton, Lovejoy, Jonesboro, Morrow, Forest Park, Hartsfield Atlanta Airport, to downtown Atlanta at a terminal adjacent to the Five Points MARTA station. They plan to run five trains in the morning going north and five trains in the evening going south.

Hope this helps. I have access to a copy of the planning document and can dig out more information should you need it.

-- Jim Tingen (jim@tingen.org), October 21, 2002.

Maybe NS could repaint one of their older Conrail Geeps back to the Penn Central Scheme and send it down on the Macon Local. It would feel right at home. LOL :)

Jonathan Vanover "In all of your getting, get understanding." Proverbs 4:7

-- Jonathan Vanover (jvanover30263@yahoo.com), October 16, 2002.

I look forward to GRTA (Georgia Regional Transportation Authority) starting the commuter service from Atlanta-Macon. I currently have an hour and a half drive that I would rather spend that time riding a train than driving. If the state and Norfolk Southern can come up with a plan that everyone can live with, this will help the growing transportation problems the state is currently facing. If NS can revitalize this line, it would give them the equivelant of two main line from Atlanta to Macon. They could route loaded coal trains to Plant Sherer in Juliete and then send the empties back over the old Central of Georgia line. After visiting Chicago a couple of years, I not only was amazed at the ease of getting around the Chicago area via train, but the ease to get to border states Indiana and Wisconsin. Starting the Atlanta-Macon line would be a good start to help the traffic problems we face here in Georgia.

-- Charles Thompson (cofgeorgia@yahoo.com), October 16, 2002.

Jonathan,

Just a couple of years ago it was a "done deal" to start rehabilitating the C-Line for bypass traffic. However, with the economy and the not-so-positive results of the Conrail takeover, these plans have been put on hold. For how long is the million dollar question (unless anybody out there has an answer).

It seems that Governor Barnes and NS cannot agree on a price for the Atlanta-Macon line so that rebuilding can start for commuter service. With the elections coming up, I'm quite certain this is the last thing on the governor's mind right now. This commuter project is going to happen; when it's going to happen is another thing.

I had heard a few days ago that there were some company material gons with crossties in the yard at Griffin, but I think these will be used for some touch up work in certain areas (most of the line is 10 mph; the right of way in a lot of places looks pretty bad, just north of Macon being one of them).

-- Jared Blocker (jlaneblock@hotmail.com), October 16, 2002.

They are installing Fiber optic communication lines along the R.O.W. along this section of track along with adding new crossing signals at seldom traveled crossings. This appears to be a job that is progressing to the South towards Barnesville.

-- Robert Gulley (jgadj@aol.com), October 15, 2002.

They are installing Fiber optic communication lines along the R.O.W. along this section of track along with adding new crossing signals at seldom traveled crossings. This appears to be a job that is progressing to the South towards

-- Robert Gulley (jgadj@aol.com), October 15, 2002.