Until the 1960s, passenger trains stopped in towns in central Kentucky and east Tennessee, carrying riders to see family, do business, and have fun. Today, Kentucky and Tennessee are the biggest populated areas of the U.S. with no Amtrak service.
KYPath proposes a 500-mile Bluegrass line on existing track. Between Cincinnati and Atlanta it will stop in Lexington, Knoxville, and 18 other towns. Day and night trains will run each way at 40-60 mph. Bicycles can be carried on Amtrak's new fleet at any stop. Coach tickets are about the cost of gas to drive.
To make this bold vision real, states (OH, KY, TN, and GA) and Amtrak want local support along the proposed line. KYPath volunteers are doing participatory research and government relations in communities along the proposed corridor, building local participation.