Passenger Trains > Mar 28, "Amtrak: Chief will keep rolling through New Mexico"

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/amtrak-chief-will-keep-rolling-through-new-mexico/article_b51ca7dc-cee0-573b-9e9c-dbe50eaa7b9d.html

"But now, even without New Mexico obtaining a grant or allocating fundingdirectly for the Southwest Chief line, Amtrak is convinced that all three states have a sound plan in place for upkeep of the tracks. Just as important, a Jan. 1, 2016, deadline for funding the project has beenlifted, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said in a telephone interview. We are making progress. There is no imminent cutoff date. … We do not wantto move this train to another route,” he said."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/15 09:52 by joemvcnj.

Geez, this article was scheduled for release on April 1. Someone jumped the gun.

Notice that there are generalities in this "news" release that could be true under a number of outcomes.

Let's hear from BNSF. "The BNSF rep declined comment until he checks with executives from his company" LOL

Bob

This will probably ends fears that 180 notices would go up any month now, and/or end needless speculation that the train would run via Amariilo, a UP route as on another thread, or as a resuscitated Desert Wind.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This will probably ends fears that 180 notices
> would go up any month now, and/or end needless
> speculation that the train would run via Amariilo,
> a UP route as on another thread, or as a
> resuscitated Desert Wind.

This is my briefest response ever to a trainorders posting:

No.

If they keep the current route, it is time to add Pueblo CO as a stop.
Yeah, yeah, I know the BNSF would piss and moan. 
And there are some logistical problems associated getting into PUD or wherever the stop would be.
Blah, blah, blah.
However, just do it!

RioGrandeRod Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they keep the current route, it is time to add
> Pueblo CO as a stop.
> Yeah, yeah, I know the BNSF would piss and
> moan. 
> And there are some logistical problems associated
> getting into PUD or wherever the stop would be.
> Blah, blah, blah.
> However, just do it!


As per your first statement, Pueblo is not on the current route, so there will be no Pueblo stop.  And you admit to logistical problems if a "Pueblo detour" were instituted.  Is there something wrong with the current Thruway bus connection to/from Pueblo?  Don't think Colorado is currently in a position to be upgrading passenger train service, unfortunately.

A couple of weeks ago I was told by a politically connected acquaintance in the know that he wasn't worried about losing Amtrak. He didn't volunteer anything further and I didn't press him. If the article is correct he was right and ATSF 2926 will have a place to stretch her legs and show her stuff next year!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/15 11:48 by Cumbresfan.

RioGrandeRod Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they keep the current route, it is time to add
> Pueblo CO as a stop.  Yeah, yeah, I know the BNSF
> would piss and moan.  And there are some logistical
> problems associated getting into PUD or wherever
> the stop would be.  Blah, blah, blah. However, just do it!

While we're at it, let's just have the train continue north and make a quick side trip to Colorado Springs and Denver.  Better still, let's have it make a quick tour of the Craig Branch.  All that good scenery should stimulate some ridership.  Then, it can backtrack back to Trinidad or La Junta and continue its journey. 

Residents of Colorado would certainly be happy, if no one else!

[sarcasm key engaged]

As long as SOME government money is coming from Kansas and Colorado, that may be enough to keep Amtrak and BNSF happy.  And who's going to police how the money is going to be spent on track maintenance? 

Is there going to be an armed guard at the CO-NM border, making sure that none of those taxpayer funds are going to be spent on track maintenance in NM if conditions demand it?

Or maybe the train becomes faster in 2 states, slower in NM, but on balance, the same running time, menza-menza.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A couple of weeks ago I was told by a politically
> connected acquaintance in the know that he wasn't
> worried about losing Amtrak. He didn't volunteer
> anything further and I didn't press him. If the
> article is correct he was right and ATSF 2926 will
> have a place to stretch her legs and show her
> stuff next year!!

Did that politically-connected acquaintance also comment on how the recreational cannabis legislation is coming?

Bob

i want pueblo to have service but not at the expense of adding 3.5 hours to the Chief nonono this idea is ludicrous, let that thought go, replace it with Denver Trinidad service or la junta like the chief did before Amtrak,  a bus is more than adequate

All the marijuana bills died except one to grow "industrial hemp." You'll have to go to our northern neighbor for your joints.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/15 12:59 by Cumbresfan.

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i want pueblo to have service but not at the
> expense of adding 3.5 hours to the Chief nonono
> this idea is ludicrous, let that thought go,
> replace it with Denver Trinidad service or la
> junta like the chief did before Amtrak,  a bus is
> more than adequate

The Caprock Express would have taken care of that, and more.

sums007 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > i want pueblo to have service but not at the
> > expense of adding 3.5 hours to the Chief nonono
> > this idea is ludicrous, let that thought go,
> > replace it with Denver Trinidad service or la
> > junta like the chief did before Amtrak,  a bus
> is
> > more than adequate
>
> The Caprock Express would have taken care of that,
> and more.

The Caprock Express was another boondoggle that should never happen and hopefully won't.

CA_Sou_MA_Agent Wrote:

>
> While we're at it, let's just have the train
> continue north and make a quick side trip to
> Colorado Springs and Denver.  Better still, let's
> have it make a quick tour of the Craig Branch. 
> All that good scenery should stimulate some
> ridership.  Then, it can backtrack back to
> Trinidad or La Junta and continue its journey. 
>
> Residents of Colorado would certainly be happy, if
> no one else!
>
>
Well, lets throw some more money into it, and have it return to Trinidad via Tennessee Pass.........

This article is what the media reported that I mentioned in my post on 3/27: http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,3701567.  If bnsfbob knew about the press release for April 1, why didn't he mention it then?  In fact, here is his final sentence in response to that post: "No need to waste anyone's time further with this thread." 

It would appear that we are still wasting people's time, aren't we????

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/
> amtrak-chief-will-keep-rolling-through-new-mexico/
> article_b51ca7dc-cee0-573b-9e9c-dbe50eaa7b9d.html
>

To add more hocus-pocus to this article, do any of you Amtrak employees believe this quote?  "In all, about 126,000 boardings and departures by Southwest Chief riders are made each year in New Mexico, Amtrak says. The company says it employs 57 residents of New Mexico, and that their total wages were about $5.2 million last year".  That equates to total wages of ~$92,000/year per person!  If you folks make that, you are doing far better than most.  Frankly, I have a hard time believing any of this crap about Amtrak.

Yes. My employer budgets 40% more than salary for the total compensation to account for all benefits.

Posted from Android

Well, let me waste some more of your precious time.
Right now the running time from Trinidad to La Junta is about 1:40. How would going to Pueblo add on 3.5 hours?
And the bus connection? It is in Raton. Why does it bypass Trinidad to Raton and vice versa. And everyone so much enjoys a bus ride!
And as far as some of the other comments, I am not advocating a meritless trip into the high country. The scenery from La Junta to Pueblo to Trinidad is blasé. 
Personally, I want to see Amtrak succeed, but the way it is being operated right now is a far cry from a successful business model, unless you are the US government.
Or is that the real model after all.
So go ahead and ridicule me like you do Gene Poon. I enjoy reading his postings and how some of you react. It is truly comical.
It is also amazing how some of you are so easily offended. If I have done that, TOO BAD!!