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Opinion: If not by plane, then by train: Why investing in a light rail is best for Chattanooga

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / A CSX freight train idles on a siding, north of Graysville, Georgia, just south of the Tennessee State Line on June 16, 2021. This right of way brought the frist train into Chattanooga in 1850 when it was the Western & Atlantic Railroad. The W & A was founded by the State of Georgia, who still owns the tracks and property. CSX System leases the rails from the State. In a unique situation the State of Georgia still owns property even in downtown Chattanooga. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / A CSX freight train idles on a siding, north of Graysville, Georgia, just south of the Tennessee State Line on June 16, 2021. This right of way brought the frist train into Chattanooga in 1850 when it was the Western & Atlantic Railroad. The W & A was founded by the State of Georgia, who still owns the tracks and property. CSX System leases the rails from the State. In a unique situation the State of Georgia still owns property even in downtown Chattanooga.

By LeBron Hill February 26, 2024 4 min read

Chattanooga and trains share a storied, interconnected history. While freight trains rumble through Choo Choo City regularly, passenger trains ceased their routes here decades ago. Still, remnants of city’s rich train travel heritage — such as the Chattanooga Choo Choo — are reminders of what was and what could be.

So it makes perfect sense to build on this legacy. It’s time to invest in Chattanooga’s passenger rail potential.

And government, both state and federal levels, seem to think so, too.

Preliminary results from a federal study this month show Chattanooga could be a stop for two of 15 passenger rail lines proposed by the Federal Railroad Administration that could be laid out across the country.

The two lines would connect Chicago to Miami and Houston to New York City.