Passenger rail service from Huntsville? A new study will look into it

Wouldn’t it be cool to take a train to Birmingham or Nashville or Atlanta? City officials believe enough Huntsville residents would be on board with passenger rail service that a study is in the works to see how viable it is.

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Passenger rail service from Huntsville to nearby cities

The Huntsville City Council approved a study on intercity passenger rail that will collect a trove of data on travel between the Huntsville area and neighboring metros such as Birmingham, Nashville, Atlanta and Chattanooga.

The study contract with DB ECO North America is for $348,874 and will be funded by the Huntsville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Manager of Urban and Long-Range Planning Dennis Madsen said the study will:

• recommend and prioritize corridors for further study
• identify potential station locations in Huntsville
• conduct stakeholder coordination

“With the possible expansion of passenger rail service, it’s important that Huntsville be at the forefront of that conversation. This study will provide valuable insight into Huntsville’s place as a travel hub as one of the South’s most dynamic cities.”

_{Dennis Madsen, City of Huntsville}

Timeline: This initial study is expected to be completed by September 2027, although the actual implementation of passenger rail service has no timeline.

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