107 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

KRCC Radio, Colorado Springs, CO, 1/2/19:

 

 

Change In Amtrak Leadership Raises Questions About The Future Of The Southwest Chief

 

 

For several years now, a state commission has been looking into ways to preserve and expand Amtrak's long-distance passenger rail line, the Southwest Chief. It travels through southern Colorado, with stops in Lamar, La Junta, and Trinidad. The group is also looking at the possibility of passenger rail along Colorado's Front Range. 

 

 

See this.

[KevinKorell]

La Junta, CO Tribune-Democrat, 1/6/19:

 

 

   Amtrak still balking on SW Chief improvements 

 

 

 

La Junta City Manager Rick Klein, one of the driving forces behind keeping the Southwest Chief in operation, last week reported that TIGER VII (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) has been closed, all paperwork completed, for the 37 miles of rail in Kansas and Colorado and 20,000 railroad ties for track improvements in Northern New Mexico. 

 

 

The latest

[CNJRoss]

KRQE TV, Albuquerque, NM 2/18/19:
 

Proposal would allot millions to maintaining railroads for Amtrak

 

 

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) - New Mexicans already pay a fortune to keep the Rail Runner going. Now, a state senator wants everyone to pitch in more money to keep Amtrak running here too.

 

There's been talk the past few years of Amtrak pulling out of northern New Mexico as the repair bills pile up for the tracks. The senator is asking for $5 million a year to take care of the problem.

 

"The purpose of this is to maintain the track from Lamy all the way to Trinidad," said Sen. Pete Campos, (D) Las Vegas. "This is one of the important forms of transportation that we have here in New Mexico, and so this is real important for the ongoing rail industry."

 

Continue here with video report.

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 2/28/19:

 

Amtrak to provide matching funds for Southwest Chief route

 

Amtrak will provide a $3 million matching grant to help upgrade track on its Southwest Chief route in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico, the railroad announced yesterday.

The announcement follows the passage of the federal government's fiscal-year 2019 Appropriations Act, which included funding for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak news release:

February 27, 2019

 

 

Amtrak to provide matching funds for Southwest Chief route

 

 

WASHINGTON – Amtrak has informed federal, state and local officials along the route of the daily Southwest Chief that, with the enactment of the recent full-year funding bill by Congress, it will provide matching funds to enable a federal grant to be awarded for safety and reliability upgrades on the train’s route in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.

 

Earlier this month, Congress passed and the President signed into law the FY2019 Appropriations Act, which included critical funding for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail. The legislation set aside at least $50 million of its National Network grant for improvements to the Southwest Chief route. Amtrak is using $3 million of these funds to match a $16 million grant successfully sought by these states, counties and cities and awarded to Colfax County, N.M. The grant and matching funds from the partners will result in an investment of more than $26 million. 

 

Amtrak and BNSF Railway began community discussions regarding needed route safety and other infrastructure improvements in 2011. Since then, more than $80 million has been committed from U.S. DOT grant programs, state and local governments, Amtrak and BNSF.

 

Amtrak will use the newly available federal capital funding in coordination with these stakeholders to continue needed work on the next route segment in New Mexico. Amtrak is also working on a long-term financial plan with our state and local partners to address the unique challenges of this route, particularly where Amtrak is the only user of these BNSF tracks in Colorado and New Mexico. 

 

The Southwest Chief, Amtrak Trains 3 & 4, provides a daily service between Chicago and Los Angeles and is the shortest and fastest Amtrak route between those cities.

 

[KevinKorell]

Garden City, KS Telegram, 5/4/19:

 

 

U.S. Sen. Moran playing hardball to preserve Amtrak service in Kansas

 

 

 

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran delayed action on confirmation of three nominees to Amtrak’s board of directors to encourage the company to make a commitment to maintaining operation of passenger rail service on the Southwest Chief’s route through rural communities in Kansas.

 

 

Read

[KevinKorell]

Salina, KS Post, 5/25/19:

 

Amtrak Leaves The Future Of Kansas Passenger Rail In Question

 

 

Passenger trains will keep rolling through rural communities in Kansas, for now. But Amtrak still hasn’t committed to operating the long-distance routes that connect small towns to larger cities long-term.

 

 

Full story

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak press release
 

September 23, 2020

 

Amtrak-led Coalition Wins Another Southwest Chief Grant

  $11.5 million will stabilize and improve Colo.-N.M. segment

 

 

WASHINGTON – Amtrak, committed to the national network of long-distance, interregional trains, is thanking the Federal Railroad Administration for a $5.6 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to stabilize and rehabilitate the route of the Amtrak Southwest Chief in Colorado and New Mexico. Combined with $4.9 million in Amtrak federal funds set aside for this service and $1 million from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), a total of $11.5 million will be invested from Trinidad, Colo., to south of Lamy, N.M.

 

This is the fifth federal grant for the route segment in these two states and Kansas. There is still a significant need for component renewal and restoration of the line to bring it to a more robust condition. When these improvements and others are complete, it will remain a productive route for decades to come.

 

Between 2016 and 2020, Amtrak has committed $15.8 million in direct funding for the route of the Southwest Chief, and an additional $12.8 million in matching funds to previously awarded federal grants. Amtrak has also invested between $4 and $8 million annually in this segment, outside of any grant programs, including selective installation of ties, replacing bolted rail in curves, and bridge or culvert repair. 

 

“Starting in 2014, a team of elected and private officials formed a coalition with Amtrak that has been successful as shown by matching funds from the states and Amtrak, the political backing for the train by the region’s Congressional delegation, and the continued support by the cities, counties, and communities alongside the railway,” said Bill Flynn, Amtrak President & Chief Executive Officer. “Our past and current investments, from Kansas through Colorado and New Mexico, demonstrate our commitment to the Chief route and also preserve this segment for eventual inclusion in a north-south connection along the Front Range between Denver and Albuquerque, via Colorado Springs and Pueblo.”

 

Most of the trackage is owned by BNSF Railway, which has been moved its traffic to less mountainous routes. The arid weather conditions and low freight tonnage since 2008 have allowed the right-of-way to remain in stable condition despite its advancing age. Amtrak, NMDOT and BNSF have identified critical areas where investment in the route infrastructure will improve its condition and enhance safety such that more efficient and productive maintenance dollars can be applied to it annually. Additional federal grant applications are expected to be sought.

 

Project engineering and construction under this CRISI grant will be carried out by the BNSF Railway Engineering Department and the Rio Metro Regional Transportation District, the latter which manages the NMDOT infrastructure. Work is expected to begin in 2021 and carry into 2022.

 

New ties will be installed on a 31-mile section south of Raton Pass and another six-mile segment in New Mexico, more than 12 miles of bolted rail will be converted to welded rail between Lamy and where Rio Metro’s Rail Runner commuter traffic diverges to Santa Fe, and the decks of two bridges will be rebuilt, along with three grade crossings.

 

BNSF commissioned a geotechnical assessment to provide recommendations for the reduction of rockfall hazards at Raton Pass, Glorieta Pass and Shoemaker Canyon. The grant will fund additional stabilization and protection measures. BNSF’s 3.3 percent Raton Pass grade is only used by Amtrak trains and is the steepest rail route in regular U.S. use. It is has been a National Historic Landmark since 1960 and is at an elevation of 7,834 feet.

 

The Southwest Chief (Trains 3 & 4) operates 2,265 miles between Chicago and Los Angeles, via Kansas City and Albuquerque, and also provides access to the Philmont Scout Ranch (northeast New Mexico’s largest employer), the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.