Southwest Chief

People on the High Plains can learn how to drive a steam train, just by taking a day trip to the Colorado-New Mexico border.

As Colorado Public Radio reports, the Cumbers and Toltec Scenic Railroad dates back to the 1880s and is the highest and longest steam-operated railroad in the country – a National Historic Landmark – that ferry tourists between Chama and Antonito Colorado every day during the summer and fall seasons.

Under President Donald Trump’s budget proposal, several Kansas cities along the Southwest Chief route would lose rail service.

As The Dodge City Globe reports, Trump’s proposal includes $2.4 billion in cuts from transportation and includes elimination of federal funding for Amtrak’s national network trains, including the Southwest Chief. Kansas cities that rely on that route include Dodge City, Garden City, Hutchinson, Lawrence, Newton and Topeka.

Under President Trump’s proposed budget, High Plains cities that profit from air and rail  services stand to suffer.

As The Garden City Telegram reports, Trump has suggested at least $2.4 billion in funding cuts, and included in that figure are subsidies for passenger rail service and rural commercial flights. For towns that are already isolated in many ways, like Garden City and Amarillo, these cuts could hurt.

A group of leaders from cities in Southwest Kansas traveled to Washington, D.C., and met with congressional leaders earlier this month. The group, known as the Southwest Kansas Coalition, consists of representatives from Garden City, Dodge City and Liberal. The coalition was formed to increase awareness of issues important to Southwest Kansas, reports the Dodge City Daily Globe.

Amtrak's existing New Mexico route of the Southwest Chief passenger train will stay on track. This announcement marks an end to the two year debate about the route and if maintenance and upgrade cost would cause it to change.  

Amtrak says it will continue Southwest Chief service through parts of Kansas and Colorado for two more decades according to a recent article from the Santa Fe New Mexican. 

Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico have until the end of the year to improve the railroad track or lose the Southwest Chief passenger rail line.  According to The New York Times Amtrak has asked the three states to put up $40 million over the next 20 years to help pay for track upgrades and maintenance to keep the track viable.  Unless all three states pitch in, Amtrak says it will potentially drop nine small-town stations in favor of existing track in Texas and Oklahoma. 

The Southwest Chief runs from Chicago and Los Angeles, with a route through Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico.  Poor track conditions have caused the Southwest Chief to reduce speeds through Kansas reported the Dodge City Globe.