Amtrak told States Have No Funding To Save Southwest Chief

Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico

transportation officials say the states don’t have funding to save

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief route through the three states.

The funding problems could cause western Kansas to lose easy

access to Amtrak passenger service.

Amtrak wants the three states spend a total of $100 million in

the next decade to improve tracks between Hutchinson and Garden

City that are in such poor condition the train has to slow down on

its daily route.

Amtrak also wants the states to split $10 million a year in operating subsidies

with Amtrak and BNSF Railroad, which owns the tracks.

Dennis Slimmer, of the Kansas transportation department, says

the states are looking for solutions, but don’t have the millions

needed to maintain the route.