DELMARVA- The possibility of a train like Amtrak could be coming to Sussex County. The Delaware Department of Transportation will begin a study in early 2024 to assess population density and demand for a railway that could facilitate travel from the top of the state to the coast.
According to DelDOT, this study comes as a solution to heavily trafficked roads, saying the population growth in Sussex County has gone up 20 percent in the last decade.
Jack Marko who lives in Lewes and had family fly in for the holidays. Even if it is not right on the coast, Marko says a local train would help with this significantly,
"To be able to get to Wilmington or even to Philadelphia airports, train stations and so forth would be a real convenience without having to drive all of the time."
DelDOT says the desire for a mode of transportation that is not driving a vehicle, continues to be a topic of discussion.
"This study is really the first of what will be many to determine what the feasibility is for downstate rail." said C.R. McLeod, DelDOT Community Relations Director.
However Marko does have concerns for building the infrastructure that comes with a railway,
"I mean it's just always something that is sort of blocking things up and I imagine a railway would be no small feat."
A passenger rail service has not come through Sussex County since the Pennsylvania Railroad was discontinued in the 1950's. David Ludlow who gives tours of the caboose that was a part of that rail line in Lewes says he thinks many would utilize a train,
"If there is a real good schedule, a good infrastructure, stations, and parking and things like this I believe that they probably would."
Public workshops will be held throughout the course of the study and DelDOT says it hopes to have a report of the study's results by mid 2025.