Amtrak issued a press release in the last few days stating it was now confident that funding had been secured or will be secured for mainintaining the BNSF line via La Junta, CO for the next 10 years. I read the news article in a online newspaper somewhere and I am sure it is available via Google. The short of it is the funding still looks a little shaky with Amtrak still waiting on NM. However, something or somebody assured them the funds would be secured and they have suspended their plans for a reroute.
Thats a lot of money to be spent on one long distance train, IMO. Maybe they can restore some of the Santa Fe Passenger Department point of interest signs that can be read out as the train passes by? Maybe? Just a few more $$$ for that.
Only thing I could find was this article:
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/amtrak-chief-will-keep-rolling-through-new-mexico/article_b51ca7dc-cee0-573b-9e9c-dbe50eaa7b9d.html
It's hard to figure what is committed funding and what is conjecture or wishful thinking.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
MikeF90 Only thing I could find was this article:
How about right here on the Trains News page?
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2015/03/amtraks-southwest-chief-route-safe
MikeF90 It's hard to figure what is committed funding and what is conjecture or wishful thinking.
You know I think that is just the state funding process. However, in order for Amtrak to feel this confident I think leading politicians in each state probably passed onto Amtrak that it was probably a done deal.
This is an interesting development and if Amtrak succeeds with this.....then possibly it can fund more of the Long Distance system this way and free up money for new equipment and or operations. Say perhaps set a financial threshold for ongoing Long Distance service and if the service does not meet the threshold then attempt to shift the deficit funding for it over to the states or attempt to abandon the route.
I personally think it would be better for Amtrak to shift more of the Long Distance train financial burden over to the states from their current Federal Budget. It is traditionally the states the trains run through that oppose the discontinuance of the train and this is one way to get the states to either more directly fund the LD trains they support OR get them to support a leaner Amtrak.
I think on a second front I would continue down the path of obtaining market level user fees for the Commutter operations that use the Northeast Corridor as well. Secondly, get Congress to transfer the non-Amtrak owned parts of the Northeast Corridor over to Amtrak.........possibly using eminent domain if they need to.
I don't think Amtrak is where it should be with control of the Northeast Corridor trackage nor do I think it is getting fully reimbursed for it's use by other carriers.
BuslistHow about right here on the Trains News page? http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2015/03/amtraks-southwest-chief-route-safe
Some of us don't subscribe at this time:
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.