This article appeared in the NY Times today.
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Wow, as a teenager I rode this train several times from Chicago to Raton. Sure hate to think of it disappearing. Beautiful country on that ride!
Yes, there have been articles in Trains magazine on this topic. What a shame it would be to lose this run. I hope it can be worked out.
I'll have to say, though, based on a trip I took on the Chief four years ago, that the scenery experience was nowhere near as nice as I expected. I was sucked in by the 1950s Santa Fe ads, no doubt! The train run itself, though, was fine, and it pulled in on time.
The article doesn't say the Southwest Chief would go away, just that it would be re-routed away from its historical route on onto a new route with better rails, capable of supporting the high speed it needs to run at in order to be economical.
This would happen because the states through which the old route run are indicating a lack of willingness to share the costs of the rail upgrades that Amtrak claims are needed.
The re-route would go through the TX Panhandle, and might serve larger towns than theolder route via Raton. However, it would bypass ABQ directly. Such a reroute would send it through Abo, which has a beauty of its own.
As a regular user of this train, last Oct 2013 - first May 1960, I'd hate for the route to be altered. But if no one wants to help keep the route as it is currently I understand the problem. Part of what I love is stepping off the Chief at Raton and getting some fresh air. And when you know the history of the route it will hurt if altered......but as long as we keep the SWC I'll keep riding.
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If they come across the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, it looks like they could run up from Mulvane Kansas thru Wichita (Ark City Sub) and then pick up the old Southwest Chief route at Newton. It would enable them to get the largest city in Kansas on the route.
Also, getting extra money for Amtrak out of the state of Kansas right now would be like getting blood from a stone.
It would be great if the train stopped at Wichita, since that's where my daughter and her mother (my ex) live.
Stuart
I have mixed feelings. Removal of the Chief from Raton likely means an embargo and eventual dismantling of the ex-Santa Fe northern route, dear to my heart. However, it has been proven to be unnessary in the big transportation picture, and would not be missed, except by those of us with a hobby interest in it. BNSF is still paying property taxes and maintenance -- a lot of money -- on the portion it owns, with no revenue of significance. That's not right.
From a practical standpoint, it would serve Wichita and Amarillo, which might have better prospects for generating revenue than Dodge City, La Junta, and Raton. It would be fine with me, as I live in Amarillo. However, that portion of the railroad has not had a passenger speed in the timetable for over 20 years (the maximum speed is now 70) and somebody would have to spend some signal money if the Chief is to run that route at 79 MPH. And it's private property. Amtrak does not own the former Santa Fe southern route and can't demand anything. We'll see . . .
Originally Posted by AMCDave:
As a regular user of this train, . . . Part of what I love is stepping off the Chief at Raton and getting some fresh air.
Dave, if they re-route the train, you will be able to step off at Amarillo and have some air force-fed to you by our more or less constant prairie wind. 
Wow, the Raton statioin hasn't changed a bit! In over 25 yrs!
Originally Posted by Number 90:
I have mixed feelings. Removal of the Chief from Raton likely means an embargo and eventual dismantling of the ex-Santa Fe northern route, dear to my heart. However, it has been proven to be unnessary in the big transportation picture, and would not be missed, except by those of us with a hobby interest in it.
I know the Raton pass route is old, slow and out dated.....but yes.....us rail fans do enjoy it! The history and scenery are great......but I too understand if it has to be abandoned. Hope I ride one more time before it happens.
I found this while looking for something else.......Really hits home why the current route is so cool.......some of the things shown in this PR film are still there today!!! Makes me ready to go again.
It's not Amtrak. BNSF wants to abandon the line. They have for years ever since the coal mines in Northern New Mexico closed. The only trains that run on that route are passenger and occasional backed up traffic. Amtrak and the states would basically be buying that part of the route from BNSF. The other route would be on the BNSF transcon mainline which is already set up for much faster trains. It's the same route as the old San Francisco Chief.
They've been trying all kinds of tactics such as possibly getting the Santa Fe Southwestern or another regional to take it over but there is basically nothing generating traffic to pay for it. New Mexico is already on the hook for the Albuquerque to Santa Fe portion of the track for their Front Runner (or whatever it's called) service if it is to continue.
The only portion that will always remain slow is Raton to Trinidad which is only about 30 miles. But it takes over well over an hour to made that 30 miles with the curves and grades it has.
