In 1971, the passenger train called Nancy Hanks made its final run on the tracks. For many in Barnesville and across Middle Georgia, the experience of boarding a train bound for Atlanta, Macon, or Savannah remains a memory—a page that turned decades ago.
However, could we see a new passenger rail stop in Lamar County? It is possible.
Over 50 years have passed since local passenger rail was an option, but GDOT is exploring the possibility of reviving passenger options between Atlanta and Savannah, and it wants your input.
As part of its planning phase, GDOT has released a public survey to gather feedback on priorities for the proposed rail line. The project aims to establish a “safe, reliable, high-capacity, competitive, and resilient transportation alternative that is feasible, implementable, and cost-effective.”
Funding and Support
The project is getting bipartisan attention from the state and federal levels. The current study is backed by $8 million in Congressionally Directed Spending identified by Senator Jon Ossoff, along with $2 million in state matching funds from GDOT, bringing the total to $10 million. These funds will support the development of a Service Development Plan (SDP) and the start of the environmental review process.
The SDP will lay out the details of the project, including estimated costs, potential station locations, and funding strategies.
Why Barnesville Makes Sense
The project seems to be focused on “intercity” rail as opposed to “commuter” rail, which only connects an urban area to its adjacent suburbs. The project also does not seem to be proposing high-speed rail, which bypasses smaller towns for major cities. Intercity rail—the type of service being described here—connects smaller city stations to metropolitan areas. So when the final decision is made, the city of Barnesville is a plausible candidate for a new passenger station.
Barnesville could benefit directly from this project based on historical precedence. Passengers boarded the train on the Central of Georgia Railway for many years. The tracks that carried those passengers still run through town today, and if the decision is made to raise Nancy from the dead, then Lamar County could see a direct economic impact. Infrastructural improvements would be necessary, but the state may favor utilizing existing rail lines rather than paying to build new ones elsewhere.
The Possibility of Bypassing Barnesville
This local benefit is in no way guaranteed, as there are other possible corridor options. The study will exhaust “all feasible routes between Atlanta and Savannah.” It is possible that GDOT would choose an existing route that bypasses Griffin, Barnesville, and Forsyth altogether, connecting Atlanta to Macon via the freight lines that pass through McDonough and Jackson. While this eastern route may appear slightly more direct on a map, it also follows a heavily used freight corridor (the Norfolk Southern main line) that could challenge the efficiency of routes for passengers. Cooperation with Norfolk Southern would be needed either way.
Even if the train used the historic “Nancy Hanks” corridor, there is no assurance that it would make stops in Barnesville, though there were Amtrak proposals for a new Barnesville station years ago. Support from local leadership and favorable citizen feedback is essential to make sure the city of Barnesville, Lamar County, Gordon State College, and local businesses get the most economic benefit from such a project.
So what is next?
Maybe nothing, but remember that public input is open now.
In the coming years, when the state’s plan is revealed and corridor decisions are finalized, cities along potential routes will have opportunities to make their case.
Many years ago, the Georgia Department of Transportation decided to bypass the cities of Griffin and Barnesville when building Interstate 75, stunting economic growth and diverting traffic away from these two cities.
By participating in public input, contacting state and local representatives, and expressing support, Barnesville can position itself, not as a bypassed town, but as a city reconnected.
If you would like to participate in the GDOT Survey, click the link below.
For more info, refer to the Georgia Department of Transportations presentation here: Atlanta – Savannah
Intercity Passenger Rail Project
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
