Amtrak Service In Jeopardy in Northern New Mexico

[mikerm19]

"National train service through New Mexico could be in jeopardy due to worn out railroad tracks and a deal to purchase 200 miles of track that the state wants to cancel."

http://santafe.kob.com/news/news/114987 ... e-jeopardy

"Almost 125,000 passengers boarded or disembarked on the Southwest Chief in New Mexico last year, including more than 12,500 at the Lamy stop."

I hate politicians....

[SD80MAC]

When I took that train last month, I couldn't help but wonder why they still run that train over Raton Pass. The only stop where a decent amount of people got on was Albuquerque, very few at the rest. Lots of jointed rail, empty yards, old signals, and lots of NOTHING. The whole RR felt like a ghost town. Does BNSF run any trains over it anymore, or is it just Amtrak 3 and 4? I can see why BNSF would want to get rid of it, I saw virtually no online customers.

[mikerm19]

Only Amtrak.

The problem is, without them taking that route, Amtrak would have to go north from Belen to get to Albuquerque, and then go south again to get back out.

I happened to be in Lamy, MI for an unrelated reason, and while there, Lamy turned into a bustling town when Amtrak was there, then back to a ghost town.

[SD80MAC]

Or they could just keep the train on the Transcon and skip Albuquerque. Have a bus connection or something.

[Saturnalia]

It'd be sad to see the Raton go, but it might end up making more sense. Keeping up dozens or miles of track for 2-count 'em: TWO passenger trains per day, and that train ISN'T making buckets of money. Perhaps the towns along the line could create thier own railroad and maintain it, even if Amtrak Pulls out. But, I don't think its worth it for and overwhelming percentage of citizens to pay (yes, a VERY small share) keep the line open. Not many people wake up and think "I would like to go to x town on the Raton Pass route". IMO

I think the best possible outcome for everyone is to get a tourist line, subsidized perhaps by the local communities, to run the line up Raton, bringing in those tourists.

As for Alberquerqe, you could put a section of the train headed by another P42, and a dozen miles from the Jct on the transcon, break off, slow, and continue to Al. On the return, its Unstoppable all over again! You could also shove the train 1,000 miles to LA

[SW]

Or they could just keep the train on the Transcon and skip Albuquerque. Have a bus connection or something.

Doesn't the Sunset Limited do something similar with Phoenix?