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What is happening to the "Southwest Chief" in New Mexico and Colorado?

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  • Member since
    December 2006
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Posted by diningcar on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 8:00 AM

CatFoodFlambe
t.   I would not think that freight train interference would be an issue over this line, and that any serious deterioration

There are no freight trains between Alb. and Raton, NONE. The only possible interference from other trains would be the Road Runner commuter trains which operate from Alb. to a location a few miles east of the I-25 crossing where they then use their own track to Santa Fe. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 267 posts
What is happening to the "Southwest Chief" in New Mexico and Colorado?
Posted by CatFoodFlambe on Monday, June 26, 2017 9:53 PM

I've noticed over the last several months that Amtrak "Southwest Chief" is consistently losing 2-4 hours in both directions east of Alburqurque, particularly over the ABQ-Raton segment.   I would not think that freight train interference would be an issue over this line, and that any serious deterioration in track condition would have been reflected in the most recent schedule changes.    Other than the occasion horrific timekeeping fall-down in crossing Kansas (especially eastbound), the train seems to hold fairly well to running times across the rest of system (although not making up much of the lost time other than on the padded Bartow-Los Angeles segment on the westbound home stretch).   What gives here???? Confused

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