gdj
Train Attendant
I don't know how much they would use it, but Clovis is home to Cannon AFB.
How many times is someone going to say this??I think there should be service to Clovis and Amarillo, but those people should not rob service to Raton and Dodge City in order to acquire it. Fight for your own train, and I will support you, but don't steal someone else's train.
Maybe BNSF is planning to upgrade these sections on its own dollar. But once Amtrak has switched routes and bits of Raton Pass get dismantled so they can't siwtch back, BNSF may yet try to get Amtrak to share the costs for these improvements. I hope Amtrak is asking for written assurances putting a cap on the costs that are coming its way.There's a downside for BNSF, of course. But the Transcon line is nearly entirely double-tracked (funding for the bridge in Vaughn has apparently been committed) -- that leaves, by my count, the bridge in Ft Sumter and three bridges northeast of Avard OK, and I'd expect BNSF to double-track those for its own account. With this line double-tracked and running mostly fast intermodals, Amtrak should be able to cruse between stations at 70 mph without causing much interference. BNSF might ask for some sidings between Mulvane, Wichita, and Newton, where Amtrak would run contrary to BNSF's "flow of traffic".
He's hard at work on the matter.The SWC runs thru New Mexico's 3rd Congressional district. Congressman Ben Lujan who represents the district should get his but busy and secure a few million $$ for this line to be maintained. To me, that is part of his job.
Oh, That's right, Congress never does it's job.
At my request, Bobbie Ferrell, Staff Liaison with Senator Udall in Santa Fe, requested staff in Washington to contact Joe Boardman to request (I know, too many “requests”) a letter committing Amtrak to run its train over the northern route for a period of at least 20 years, and committing that the annual maintenance share required of New Mexico not exceed $4 Million. Bobbie reports that Amtrak has told Senator Udall that they are compiling what the state needs.
I met with Patricia Dominguez, Staff Liaison with Senator Heinrich in Santa Fe, and other staff members last week to update her and them on the issue. I asked her to also have Senator Heinrich contact Boardman with the same request we made through Bobbie Ferrell.
Lynn Aldrich, NM Representative to the NARP Governing Council, has reached out to Jim Mathews, President of NARP, to request he also contact Joe Boardman. We sent Mr. Mathews a draft letter to forward to Boardman which contained the same request made through Bobbie Ferrell. We have not heard back yet.
These requests were premised on sidebar conversations with various NM legislators after both interim hearings earlier this fall.
The Colorado Commission met last Friday. Amtrak released new cost estimates for CO and KS based on new data received from BNSF. Amtrak has not completed new estimated costs for New Mexico. The numbers that were released are attached. The commission heard that NM capital costs will be less but maintenance costs may be more due to Amtrak’s sole use of the line from Trinidad to Lamy. The Commission voted to negotiate with NMDOT as well at KDOT, CDOT, Amtrak and BNSF and to join in a new TIGER grant application for capital funding. They were told that Sec Tom Church is willing to join such a venture. The Federal budget bill recently signed by President Obama contains renewal TIGER Grant funding. We will be urging NM to join in the new TIGER application.
Oh god dumb dumb dumb Amtrak. Don't fall for this, it's a trap!At my request, Bobbie Ferrell, Staff Liaison with Senator Udall in Santa Fe, requested staff in Washington to contact Joe Boardman to request (I know, too many “requests”) a letter committing Amtrak to run its train over the northern route for a period of at least 20 years, and committing that the annual maintenance share required of New Mexico not exceed $4 Million. Bobbie reports that Amtrak has told Senator Udall that they are compiling what the state needs.
NM is not going to be happy with these costs.Amtrak has not completed new estimated costs for New Mexico. The numbers that were released are attached.
Don't fall for this, it's a trap!
NM could even buy the track itself. The key is for the track to not be controlled by a private company when the state funds upgrades to it, that keeps it all in the clear.Edit: I do wonder...could something be set up whereby Amtrak would buy the section of track BNSF wants to dump with, say, TIGER money (thereby nominally getting NM off the hook for the "funding to a private company" mess that seems to be at issue)?
Lots of people say that, but I'm not sure how accurate it is. At present, the platform track dead ends just to the south of the station, but it appears there is plenty of space to add a connection at that end to make it a run-through track that Amtrak would be able to access.chakk - It has been reported here a number of times that due to the track layout around Belen, it is impractical to have Amtrak stop there. If the re-route does take place, it seems to have been the intention all along to run the train to Albuquerque and reverse it on the wye track.
Yeah, I think we were all hoping for that. :-( But no, she's not a visionary like Richardson was.It's too bad Gov. Martinez isn't a visionary. With the line purchased and Colorado working on connecting Pueblo and eventually Colo Springs/Denver
to the line it would be a huge economic boost to the area.
Enter your email address to join: