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.
Amtrak uses the BNSF route, and has indicated that it will reroute the Southwest Chief through Texas and Oklahoma if the tracks aren’t upgraded. That contract expires in 2015.
The Colorado Rail Passenger Association is sponsoring a meeting to discuss the issue September 14 in Pueblo, Colorado. Ray Lang from Amtrak, Ross Capon from the National Association of Railroad Passengers, and a trio from southwest Kansas will be in attendance. The three are: Kansas state Rep. John Doll of Garden City, Garden City Commissioner Janet Doll and Dodge City Mayor Kent Smoll.