Passenger Trains > What is happen to NM Senate about the Chief??

What is Happen to that Bill in the New Mexico Senate about the Amtrak Southwest Chief Route and these another states of KS, and CO?? Time is running short to Cut a deal in NM, Don't the Senate and House in NM go home in few weeks for next 2 years?? 2016 is coming fast for Amtrak train 3&4 for Raton Pass, I would say bring back the Desert Wind as a Chicago to LAX, Ca train if Amtrak can't cut deal. But we all know is the people in D.C. don't think like that.

Nothing happened. They adjourned for the year at noon last Saturday; no bills in either chamber were introduced related to the Southwest Chief. However a bill passed the NM House requesting a study of the economics of selling off the NM Railrunner Express. Also money for the Cumbres and Toltec (track, locomotives and passenger cars) was denied along with money for construction projects for schools, hospitals, courts, etc. in the final hours due the NM House putting money for many of those projects into highway construction. Total lost was $264 million in bonds. Lots of hurt and angry feelings. Next time legislators meet is January for only 30 days.

Governor Martinez says she supports Amtrak but that it's a Federal government responsibility to fund it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/15 10:22 by Cumbresfan.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
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> Nothing happened. They adjourned for the year at
> noon last Saturday; no bills in either chamber
> were introduced related to the Southwest Chief.
> However a bill passed the NM House requesting a
> study of the economics of selling off the NM
> Railrunner Express. Also money for the Cumbres and
> Toltec (track, locomotives and passenger cars) was
> denied along with money for construction projects
> for schools, hospitals, courts, etc. in the final
> hours due the NM House putting money for many of
> those projects into highway construction. Total
> lost was $264 million in bonds. Lots of hurt and
> angry feelings. Next time legislators meet is
> January for only 30 days.
>
> Governor Martinez says she supports Amtrak but
> that it's a Federal government responsibility to
> fund it.

is it me or is something really out of kilter with politicians ... it's only March one quarter into the new year and they adjourn for the rest of the year but only meet for senate business for only 30 days ...

Posted from Android

NM Constitution: 30 calendar days in even-numbered years, 60 days in odd-numbered years. Thirty day sessions are limited to financial affairs except for issues designated by the governor. Legislators receive no pay, but room, board and transportation paid by state when in Santa Fe on official business. Works most of the time - keeps them out of mischief, but this year had side issues (like Daylight Saving time year-round) to keep the public interest.

http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/

"The New Mexico State Legislature convenes in regular sessions on the third Tuesday in January each year. The Legislature meets for 60 days in odd-numbered years and 30 days in even-numbered years. Between regular sessions, legislators serve on interim committees that study a variety of issues. 

The Legislature is composed of a 70-member House of Representatives and a 42-member Senate. The members are unpaid for their legislative work, but do receive a daily living allowance for each day of official legislative work....."

Perhaps this is not a priority for New Mexico.  The fact that no bill was introduced suggests no legislator or organized group thought the item important enough, or at least not urgent enough to proceed in 2015.

I'm still thinking Amarillo.

Think 180 notice.
Amarillo not in Amtrak nor BNSF's Tarot cards

Cumbresfan Wrote:
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> Governor Martinez says she supports Amtrak but
> that it's a Federal government responsibility to
> fund it.


And she is right.  Boardman thinks so too, but he forgets that
there is an entire countrly and thinks it applies only for
the NEC (Nothing Else Counts).

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Think 180 notice.
> Amarillo not in Amtrak nor BNSF's Tarot cards
 
Or 90 days, or 30 days?
Click here: U.S.Code, Title49, SubtitleV, PartC, Chap247, Sec24706

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cumbresfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Governor Martinez says she supports Amtrak but
> > that it's a Federal government responsibility
> to
> > fund it.
>
>
> And she is right.  Boardman thinks so too, but he
> forgets that
> there is an entire countrly and thinks it applies
> only for
> the NEC (Nothing Else Counts).

Right, I thought the LD trains are on Amtrak's dime.  All the state train funding has been off loaded to the states and the capital expenditures off Amtrak's books?

Bob

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Think 180 notice.
> Amarillo not in Amtrak nor BNSF's Tarot cards

How do you know Amarillo is not in Amtrak or
BNSF plans?

nite-train Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Think 180 notice.
> > Amarillo not in Amtrak nor BNSF's Tarot cards
>
> How do you know Amarillo is not in Amtrak or
> BNSF plans?


Like said before it the Southern route Back in June 1998 Amtrak crew said  BNSF told them to move to Southern Route way back in 1998, when my family was trip to LAX, Ca. The crew was talking about moving. Its matter of time to southern route or bring back Desert Wind as a Chicago to LAX, Ca .



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/15 13:39 by railcity.

Since 91% of the Chief's business is not between end-points, the Desert Wind is mostly useless to its passengers..

Except for Las Vegas, NV!

TomPlatten Wrote:
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> Except for Las Vegas, NV!


Indeed.  Las Vegas is likely a more important market than all communities served by the Southwest Chief that would not otherwise be served upon discontinuance.

Desert Wind has its own uses, but subbing for the Chief was not among them, not anymore than the Pioneer could replace the Empire Builder, unless you equate the WA and OR towns along the Columbia as well as the endpoints.

Crews are replacing ties thru Hutchinson, KS (a lot) on both tracks.  New panel track is setting in spots to replace street crossings.
I've heard ties and rail are set off out around Garden City, KS also.

Mike in Oz

unclebob Wrote:
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> Crews are replacing ties thru Hutchinson, KS (a
> lot) on both tracks.  New panel track is setting
> in spots to replace street crossings.
> I've heard ties and rail are set off out around
> Garden City, KS also.
>
> Mike in Oz


So, what does that mean for the Chief then, its just part of route being worked on??

railcity Wrote:

> So, what does that mean for the Chief then, its
> just part of route being worked on??

Are you that dumb or what! 1,  BNSF  even said they don't want the Chief on the Belen Cutoff, 2, the upgrades was for 3 and 4 up in Kansas and Colorado since they approved their share of the money to keep the Chief on the North Line, and 3, there's no way I would approve resurrecting 35 and 36 and sacrificing the Chief just for that besides, the shuttle ride is not as bad as you always say it is between Kingman and Vegas!

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> railcity Wrote:
>
> > So, what does that mean for the Chief then, its
> > just part of route being worked on??
>
> Are you that dumb or what! 1,  BNSF  even said
> they don't want the Chief on the Belen Cutoff, 2,
> the upgrades was for 3 and 4 up in Kansas and
> Colorado since they approved their share of the
> money to keep the Chief on the North Line, and 3,
> there's no way I would approve resurrecting 35 and
> 36 and sacrificing the Chief just for that
> besides, the shuttle ride is not as bad as you
> always say it is between Kingman and Vegas!


Pro amtrak that what I heard back in 1998 going to Lax, Ca on chief BNSF told Amtrak is moving back in 1998. That what the Amtrak crew was talking about.