10 replies to this topic

[jacorbett70]

From the Kansas City Star, 1/30/15:

 

Dispute could halt Amtrak service in Missouri

A dispute over who should bear the cost of installing a Congressionally mandated train collision avoidance system could result in the suspension of Amtrak service to Missouri’s two largest cities by the end of the year.

 

Amtrak operates over two smaller freight railroads in Kansas City and St. Louis to reach the respective cities’ Union Stations. Amtrak and Missouri and the two railroads are at odds over who will pay the $32 million cost of installing the system in Kansas City and the $700,000 cost in St. Louis, and future maintenance expenses.

 

http://www.kansascit...cle8764154.html
 

[Sloan]

 

Teel testified in Washington last week, saying that Missouri pays for Amtrak service and the state doesn't have the $20 million it needs for the safety gear.

"In fact, every year, we struggle to get the $9 million we need to operate Amtrak," she said.

http://www.kmbc.com/...ave-kc/31052700

[KevinKorell]

Doesn't Amtrak already leave Kansas City four times a day? (2 eastbound Missouri RiverRunners, eastbound Southwest Chief, and westbound Southwest Chief)

 

This  could really put a damper on the efforts to retain the Southwest Chief over its current route. While KC is not in the affected segment, it is a hub and major city that still needs to be served along the route.  If the train ends up missing both Albuquerque and Kansas City it will suffer severe loss of revenue, and then pundits will argue for its discontinuance.

[steve4031]

I suspect this is the Kansas City- St. Louis service. Bnsf has cab signaling on swc route through Missouri. I've clocked it at 90 severaL times.

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 6/12/15: 

 

 

Amtrak may pull plug on Southwest Chief, River Runner

 

 

Amtrak might have to end or reroute passenger-rail service on the Southwest Chief and River Runner lines by year's end because of costs to install positive train control (PTC) technology, an Amtrak executive told a Senate committee earlier this week.

Read this one here.

[Sloan]

 

 

Amtrak: Southwest Chief route might go away due to pricey upgrades necessary

 

Amtrak officials told a U.S. Senate committee this week they might have to do away with the famous Southwest Chief train route from Chicago to Los Angeles – through New Mexico – because they can’t afford to install expensive new safety technology.

http://www.kob.com/a...ml#.VXxaPmBYXdk

 

 

...

Amtrak says it can’t afford the $30 million it will cost to install the new gear.

That's pathetic if the feds can't come up with a mere $30 million.  There's all kinds of money floating around DC.  Some aggressive and savvy congressional staffers can find it among wasted expenditures such as $300 million used by General Services Administration to maintain unoccupied and unused federal office buildings inside the Beltway. Sheeeeesh!  

 

Sloan

Edited by Sloan, 13 June 2015 - 11:38 AM.

[KevinKorell]

KOAT-TV, Channel 7 in Albuquerque, NM,  6/14/15:

 

Historic Chicago to LA Amtrak route could be eliminated

 

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief route travels from Chicago to Los Angeles every day, with several stops along the way, including five in New Mexico.

 

The historic route could come to a screeching halt if Amtrak does not come up with $30 million to pay for safety upgrades.

 

That story

[CNJRoss]

The Wichita (KS) Eagle, 7/5:

 

Amtrak service in Kansas could be cut

NEWTON -Carl and Bea Kellar held hands as they awaited the eastbound Amtrak train in Newton at 2 a.m. Friday.

 

It was their first time riding the train, they said, waiting among the 10 people gathered in the sleepy hours of the morning.

 

Soon the station manager informed passengers waiting for the westbound train that because of flooding on the tracks, the train would be delayed for about six hours.

 

In about six months, if circumstances in Kansas City are not resolved, Amtrak could cancel the Southwest Chief line, effectively leaving the state of Kansas altogether.

 

SNIP

 

The cities along the route of the Southwest Chief “work pretty hard, and to work so hard to preserve passenger rail only to have it pulled away because we can’t satisfy some congressional mandate east of Kansas City is a tragedy for this community,” Hague said.

 

 

Continue here.

[Sloan]

 

 

Amtrak service in Kansas could be cut

 

In about six months, if circumstances in Kansas City are not resolved, Amtrak could cancel the Southwest Chief line, effectively leaving the state of Kansas altogether.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.co...l#storylink=cpy

http://www.kansas.co...le26500378.html

[KevinKorell]

We had 2 separate threads about this topic, some dating back to earlier this year, and another more recent.  I have merged them together here.