Gulf Breeze (Amtrak)

Infobox rail line
name = "Gulf Breeze"
color =

logo_width =


image_width = 300px
caption = The Greenville, Alabama L&N depot.
type = Inter-city rail
system = Amtrak
status = Discontinued
locale = Alabama
start = Birmingham, Alabama
end = Mobile, Alabama
stations =
routes =
ridership =
open = 1989
close = 1995
owner = CSXT (track)
operator = Amtrak
character =
stock =
linelength = convert|275|mi|km
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge = RailGauge|ussg
el =
speed =
elevation =

Amtrak Gulf Breeze
map_state = showThe "Gulf Breeze" was a convert|275|mi|km|adj=on daily passenger train operated by Amtrak between Birmingham and Mobile in the U.S. state of Alabama.

History

Amtrak introduced the "Gulf Breeze" in October 1989 as an adjunct to the "Crescent" (New York–New Orleans). Costs of operation were split between Amtrak and the state, with the latter contributing about $1.3 million per year. Annual ridership in FY 1994, the last full year of operation, was 7,737. In December of 1994 Amtrak announced that the "Gulf Breeze" would be discontinued as part of a broad cost-cutting measure which saw other services eliminated or reduced. [cite news | title=CUTS BIRMINGHAM TO MOBILE LINK RAIL SERVICE PRUNED NATIONWIDE | work=Birmingham News | date=December 15, 1994 | first=Stan | last=Diehl | accessdate=2008-05-03] The last "Gulf Breeze" ran on April 1, 1995, and was replaced by bus service. [cite news | title=AMTRAK ELIMINATES GULF BREEZE TRAIN SERVICE; REPLACES WITH THRUWAY BUS SERVICE | work=PR Newswire | date=April 3, 1995 | accessdate=2008-05-03]

Later that year attempts were made under the auspices of the [http://www.srrtc.org/ Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission] to resurrect the "Gulf Breeze" as a Mobile–New Orleans service, sharing part of the "Sunset Limited"'s route. This was eventually realized as the "Gulf Coast Limited", a joint effort between Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana which operated 1996–1997. [cite news | title=The little train route that could gets the go-ahead | work=Coast Business | date=April 10, 1995 | accessdate=2008-05-03 | page=7]

Route

The "Gulf Breeze" originated in New York City as the "Crescent", but split at Birmingham and ran south through Montgomery to Mobile on the Gulf of Mexico, while the "Crescent" continued southwest through Mississippi to Louisiana. At the time Mobile was served also by the "Sunset Limited" (Orlando–Los Angeles). [cite news | title=Orient Express-Style Train Launches Washington to Chicago Run | work=Washington Business Journal | date=November 13, 1989 | first=Peter | last=Durantine | accessdate=2008-05-03 | page=31]

The "Gulf Breeze" served the following communities:
*Birmingham, Alabama
*Montgomery, Alabama
*Greenville, Alabama
*Evergreen, Alabama
*Brewton, Alabama
*Atmore, Alabama
*Bay Minette, Alabama
*Mobile, Alabama

Of these, Birmingham is still served by the "Crescent", while Mobile and Atmore were served by the "Sunset Limited" prior to Hurricane Katrina, which saw the shortening of that line to New Orleans. The remainder no longer have passenger rail service.

See also

*"Gulf Coast Limited"

External links

* [http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1260931 "Gulf Breeze" @ Everything2] externalimage
align = right
width = 200px

http://www.railpixs.com/amt3/GulfBreeze_inAla_Dec90.jpgA "Gulf Breeze" headed by an F40PH northbound near Flomaton, Alabama in December of 1990.] [cite web | url=http://www.railpixs.com/amt3/amt3.html | accessdate=2008-05-03 | work=A Few Railroad Pixs | author=Gary Morris | title=Amtrak 3]

References