Plans could stall on commuter rail line from Atlanta and Gainesville

ATLANTA - Charges that a proposal in the Georgia General Assembly could put the brakes on any future plans for a long-talked-about commuter rail line between Atlanta and Gainesville.

The Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers is denouncing what it calls "a transparent attempt to end commuter train service before it even gets started."

House Bill 1033 would require any county planning to fund commuter rail service to hold a public referendum first - and is aimed at a planned Atlanta-Lovejoy line.

But, the railroad passenger group says it has much broader implications and will be used to fight commuter rail service to Athens, Gainesville and other places as well.