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What is the latest status on traffic over BNSF´s Glorieta Pass, please? Does BNSF still run trains - and if yes, how much per day? I have a few days spare from business in the area and wanted to visit the line. Is it still worth going there or already too late ? Thanks, Tom.
Posts: 3 | Registered: Jun 2007
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The future for BNSF freight on Raton Pass NM looks to be poor. This article originally from Trains Magazine reports that BNSF will END their operations over Raton and Gloreta in December 2007. The Trainorders dot com website reported that Amtrak Southwest Chief 3 and 4 will change to the former ATSF Southern Transcon at that some time. The ATSF Southern Transcon runs thru Amarillo TX and Clovis NM. This Southern Transcon route could be a major headache for Amtrak because that freight MAINLINE currently BYPASSES Albuquerque NM and DIRECTLY passes thru Belen NM about 33 miles south of ABQ. Stay tuned and we will all see what finally happens in the end with ABQ service and the Amtrak Southwest Chief. ---Daniel :
Date: June 22, 2007 10:37 Re: Wichita still seeking Amtrak: Author: railcity They are going on Southern Route Starting in Dec 2007.
[ Reply To This Message ] [ Private Reply ] [ Quote This Message ] Date: June 22, 2007 11:12 Re: Wichita still seeking Amtrak: Author: PWB parts545 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Since Albuquerque is not interested in building > Amtrak a new station and who knows how much New > Mexico will charge to run 3 and 4 over their > railroad, as soon as the 2nd main is in service > through Abo Amtrak should request BNSF to allow 3 > and 4 over the Transcon through Wichita. > Wichita might look into fixing up the old depot > (if its available) incase 3 and 4 are rerouted in > the future.
There is a new station in Albuquerqe on the site of old station that burned down. Greyhound and TMN&O bus lines moved in. I was told Amtrak wouldn't move in for whatever reason? Still in the old baggage facility building next to it, which they remodled with samll waiting room and ticket office. I also heard that the old depot in Wichita was torn down?
[ Reply To This Message ] [ Private Reply ] [ Quote This Message ] Date: June 22, 2007 11:26 Re: Wichita still seeking Amtrak: Author: raillady I took the Texas Chief from Chicago to Wichita in 1961 to visit a brother who was stationed there, and train service was pretty good at that time. The trip lasted about 10 hours. I was so glad to "get off the farm in the midwest," that my visit lasted four years! I'm sorry that Wichita no longer has a stop, and perhaps that occurred when the Texas Chief was annulled.
[ Reply To This Message ] [ Private Reply ] [ Quote This Message ] Date: June 22, 2007 12:31 Re: Wichita still seeking Amtrak: Author: Milw_E70 Wichita still has its station...though its now used by Cox Communications.
[ Reply To This Message ] [ Private Reply ] [ Quote This Message ] Date: June 22, 2007 12:33 Re: Wichita still seeking Amtrak: Author: parts545 railcity Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > They are going on Southern Route Starting in Dec > 2007.
Is that posted anyplace?
[ Reply To This Message ] [ Private Reply ] [ Quote This Message ] Date: June 22, 2007 15:28 Re: Wichita still seeking Amtrak: Author: railcity Yes, on All Board yahoo group few months ago.
[ Reply To This Message ] [ Private Reply ] [ Quote This Message ] Date: June 22, 2007 17:47 Re: Wichita still seeking Amtrak: Author: Milw_E70 Funny...my bosses say Amtrak is not too welcomed here on the southern transcon anytime soon.
[ Reply To This Message ] [ Private Reply ] [ Quote This Message ] Date: June 22, 2007 19:16 Re: Wichita still seeking Amtrak: Author: railcity Well your lower level bosses don't know, what going on in Ft. Worth, TX and bigger bosses know whats going on.
[ Reply To This Message ] [ Private Reply ] [ Quote This Message ] Date: June 22, 2007 22:09 Re: Wichita still seeking Amtrak: Author: bnsfbob railcity Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well your lower level bosses don't know, what > going on in Ft. Worth, TX and bigger bosses know > whats going on.
Fwd: RS: New Mexico's Raton Pass Message List Reply | Forward Message #147689 of 149212 < Prev | Next > FYI:
Howard Bingham
==================== >To: railspot@yahoogroups.com >From: "Mike Murray" <1mdmurray@...> >Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 21:39:41 -0500 >Subject: RS: New Mexico's Raton Pass > > > From Trains.com 5/25/07: "BNSF Railway will cease freight service over its >Raton Pass line effective at the end of this year, Trains has learned. BNSF >Spokesman Joe Faust confirmed the decision thsi afternoon. Stay tuned for >updates..." > >Latest Update: > >TRAINS: Ever-dwindling traffic on the fabled line over New Mexico's Raton >Pass will get even thinner next year when Santa Fe Railway successor BNSF >Railway ceases operations between Albuquerque, N.M., and La Junta, Colo., a >company spokesman confirmed today. However, no actual track abandonment has >been announced, and the state of New Mexico will likely own most of the >track in question by the end of the year. > >The future of BNSF operations in Albuquerque itself is stable for now, >though that could change, BNSF Director of Public Affairs Joe Faust said. > >"We are not closing our operation in Albuquerque," Faust told Trains News >Wire. "What we are doing, though, is at the end of the year, we are not >going to operate the line between Albuquerque and La Junta." > >Faust said additional details were not immediately available. > >Traffic on the line became a shadow of its past self after the Santa Fe >merged with the Burlington Northern, which allowed directional running >between Denver and Amarillo, Texas. Westbound freight, which formerly came >out of Colorado and over Raton Pass into New Mexico, instead now runs >southeast to Amarillo and the BNSF Transcon. > >Powder River coal destined for Texas power plants runs on the ex-Santa Fe >from Pueblo through La Junta to Amarillo, with empties returning on the >ex-Colorado & Southern through Trinidad to Pueblo. > >In recent years, traffic over Raton has been mostly eastbound unit trains of >empty grain, vehicle, and intermodal cars. Cars to and from Albuquerque have >been handled by daily shuttles from the Transcon yard at Belen. > >Amtrak also operates the Nos. 3 and 4, the Southwest Chief, over the line, >and shortline Santa Fe Southern connects at Lamy, N.M., to interchange >freight with BNSF. > >Faust said it is premature to speculate on the future of the Abajo yard in >Albuquerque and local switching operations. However, he said it is possible >the operation could become a shortline operation, as has already happened >with the ex-Santa Fe Deming and Carlsbad subdivisions in New Mexico. > >BNSF recently held a town-hall meeting with employees to keep them apprised >of the railroad's plans, he added. > >The state of New Mexico has purchased most of the Belen-Albuquerque-Raton >Pass line, with the last segment from Las Vegas, N.M., to the pass scheduled >to become state property in January. The state currently operates the New >Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter service on the >Belen-Albuquerque-Bernalillo portion, with expansion of service to Santa Fe >planned for late 2008. > >Future plans call for passenger service to connect Albuquerque with Denver, >hence the state's interest in the line further to the north. - William P. >Diven >_____________________________________________________ > >Brian Kreimendahl >Documenting, photographing and modeling BNSF in the Southwest >Rio Rancho, New Mexico >http://www.pbase.com/intermodal >_____________________________________________________ ---
Posts: 283 | From: Palo Alto,CA | Registered: Jul 2000
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The reroute of the Southwest Chief should be regarded as RUMOR plain and simple. Do you really think that the state of New Mexico as new owner of the line - all the way to Trinidad Colorado, ultimately - would push for a change that would end passenger service to two towns in New Mexico? Has anyone ever heard the term political suicide?
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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Several factors indicate that the SWC will continue on the northern route: 1. Kansas & Colorado wish it to remain there 2. No ATS on the southern route, so slower speeds
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Kansas and Colorado wish it to remain there???
HUH?
I live in Kansas City. I've not heard diddly from the Kansas Legislature on Amtrak in the past few years. I don't think they care one way or the other.
Getting on the Belen Cutoff may mean a logistical challenge or two serving Albuquerque, but a re-route would probably increase population centers visited by 3/4.
-------------------- The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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BNSF managers quoted very recently are saying they are ONLY looking at other routing options, NOT complete abandonment of Raton/Glorietta passes. Have seen this on more than a few other forums.
-------------------- Andy Jackson Downey CA Posts: 249 | From: Downey CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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Hi again, thanks for all updates - if I understood correctly, Glorietta pass sees mostly eastbound traffic now? Does somebody know, how many trains per day (in average) will use the Glorieta pass line ? Thanks, Tom.
Posts: 3 | Registered: Jun 2007
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So the KS Legislature does nothing about AMTRAK!!
DA, DA, DA.
What's to do? The SWC wiil remain on the northern route unless something which we have not anticipated occurs.
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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"Getting on the Belen Cutoff may mean a logistical challenge or two serving Albuquerque, ." Nothing significant. If you recall last winter's reroutes due to snow, they managed to keep the current schedule when they ran via Amarillo. Appartently there is a wye just south of Albuquerque so that turning the train was no big deal.
However, that said, the re-route is completely out there in rumor land.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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