The Frankfort, Kentucky “State Journal” has a front page story today (1-13-2011) about a group proposing to put in 70 MPH passenger train service between Winchester, Kentucky and Louisville, Kentucky (105 miles) using R J Corman and CSX track by 2012 for a cost of $75 million. Cost is given as $35 million for two diesel trains and $40 million for track improvement. Cost of ticket would be $8 between Lexington and Frankfort (25 miles). $40 million to upgrade 105 miles of 35 MPH track to 70 MPH?? All this done by October 2012?? === I would guess you would have to spend at least $70 million just to up grade on grade crossings with flashing lights and gates to run trains at 70 MPH, not to say any thing about track and signal upgrades, or building the proposed eleven stations with parking lots (Winchester, Lexington, Midway, Frankfort, Bagdad, Shelbyville, Simpsonville, Anchorage and elsewhere), plus constructing a new track connection to Union Station in Louisville. Wait a minute I forgot the EPA study that would have to be done before any work could be undertaken. This alone will cost $10 million and take ten years. Any way I would not plan on being trackside any time soon to photograph passenger train service between Winchester and Louisville. — Forgot to add they see no objections from people living along the track concerning this proposal.

Chuck Hinrichs