Amtrak Runs For the Money Along Florida's East Coast

The first passenger train to run from Miami to Jacksonville in 47 years made a successful run Saturday, cheered on by crowds at eight of the stops along the way.

An Amtrak-Florida East Coast Inspection train carried 100-plus VIPs, politicians and journalists to highlight the push for reviving intercity service along the FEC tracks north of Palm Beach. The 350-mile trip went smoothly and stayed on schedule, leaving Miami at 9 a.m. and arriving in Jacksonville at 5:30 p.m.

Amtrak Chairman of the Board Tom Carper was aboard, accompanied for part of the way by Gov. Charlie Crist, U.S. Rep Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, and an assortment of county commissioners and city council members

A group called the Amtrak/FEC Corridor Coalition is working to land a $268 million federal grant to restore passenger rail service on the route after a nearly five-decade absence.

So what are their chances?

Check in with Sunshine State News this week to find out.