Public Transportation and Smart Growth

mahatmakanejeeves

(61,659 posts) Fri Jun 12, 2015, 01:48 PM Jun 2015

Amtrak may pull plug on Southwest Chief, River Runner

Rail News: Amtrak
June 12, 2015

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.

Amtrak Vice President of Operations DJ Stadler testified Wednesday before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which held a hearing on passenger-rail safety. Stadler gave a report on Amtrak's efforts to implement PTC on its network.

In his written testimony, Stadler said that in Missouri, Amtrak's Southwest Chief route runs on track owned by two host railroads, the Kansas City Terminal (KCT) and the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis. As Class III railroads, they are exempt from the federal PTC requirement unless the track is used by passenger trains.

"Because they're considered Class III, the PTC requirement is triggered by the operation of passenger trains," Stadler said. "These hosts have maintained that because Amtrak's trains trigger the PTC requirement, Amtrak is responsible for the cost of PTC installation, which amounts in the case of KCT to $30 million."

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Amtrak may pull plug on Southwest Chief, River Runner (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2015 OP

That's the route I loved taking to Los Angeles Siwsan Jun 2015 #1

Would rerouting involve moving the stations? KamaAina Jun 2015 #2

Rerouitng Is for a new route Dem_in_Nebr. Jun 2015 #3

I had to look it up. mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2015 #4

I meant rerouting within St. Louis and KC KamaAina Jun 2015 #5

Siwsan

(27,354 posts)

1. That's the route I loved taking to Los Angeles

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Jun 12, 2015, 02:05 PM

Jun 2015

I loved the Southwest Chief route to California. When the train stopped at Albuquerque there was about a long enough stop over that you could go down to the platform where a number of traders had booths open. I picked up some really nice pieces of turquoise jewelry. And, back in the day, between Albuquerque and Gallup they would have a member of the Navajo Nation on board as a guide, telling about the history of the area. This is just very sad news to hear.

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

2. Would rerouting involve moving the stations?

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Jun 12, 2015, 04:23 PM

Jun 2015

Even so, that's the way to go. Too much of the country would be cut off otherwsie.

Dem_in_Nebr.

(315 posts)

3. Rerouitng Is for a new route

Reply to KamaAina (Reply #2)

Sat Jun 13, 2015, 10:16 AM

Jun 2015

Probably down through Oklahoma on another BNSF route to go West from Dallas / Fort Worth or Amarillo. Service would still be lost through Western KS, Southern CO and Northern NM.

mahatmakanejeeves

(61,659 posts)

4. I had to look it up.

Reply to Dem_in_Nebr. (Reply #3)

Sat Jun 13, 2015, 11:28 AM

Jun 2015

The Southwest Chief would be trains numbered "3" and "4" on this map:

Amtrak Status Maps - West

As I post, the latest update is 12:23 p.m. EDT, and a westbound Southwest Chief is just about to cross from Colorado into New Mexico. If you click on that train's symbol, you can see its history. It left Chicago yesterday on time, and it left Trinidad, Colorado, 17 minutes late.

For Amtrak enthusiasts, this is one of the greatest Interwebz sites ever.

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

5. I meant rerouting within St. Louis and KC

Reply to Dem_in_Nebr. (Reply #3)

Sat Jun 13, 2015, 12:40 PM

Jun 2015

which seem to be the trouble spots.

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