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Amtrak Discussing Southwest Chief reroute with BNSF
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: [QB] Looks as if "one more nail in the coffin" regarding the existing route of 3-4; briefly stated the BNSF has imposed a Passenger speed of 60mphver 365 miles of route where 79 was the previous speed. "Do the math" and, very roundly, for 180 miles noted within the article 45" has been added to the Chief's running time. [URL=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KS_AGING_RAILS_KSOL-?]Associated Press Courtesy Fort Scott Tribune[/URL] Brief passage: [i][list] [*]BNFS Railway, which owns the track and contracts with Amtrak for its use, imposed the reduced speeds on Aug. 20 following an inspection, said BNSF spokesman Andy Williams. "Yes, we do have a slow order in place - 60 mph for passenger, 40 mph for freight," Williams stated in an e-mail. "This rail was laid between 1940 and 1951. It is now not feasible to maintain ride quality on these segments for passenger trains operating at speeds of 79 mph." For speeds to return to 79 mph, new rail would have to be installed along the segments - and there are no plans to replace the rail "at this time," Williams said. While BNSF officials wouldn't identify the segments of track involved in the slowdown, Fred W. Frailey, a freelance writer and special correspondent for Train Magazine, said officials confirmed for him it involved about 180 miles of the more than 365-mile route from Newton to La Junta, Colo., including an area from Hutchinson to 22 miles west, from east of Dodge City to west of Garden City, and from Syracuse to Las Animas, Colo. BNFS, a division of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., owns the line and runs a couple of freight trains a day on it. Under an agreement with Amtrak that took effect in January, BNSF has agreed to maintain the track to allow both freight and passenger speeds up to 40 mph, but Amtrak would be responsible for costs to keep the track maintained for 79 mph operation. In an article he wrote last year about the deal, Frailey estimated it's costing Amtrak about $10 million per year to maintain the track from Newton to New Mexico for those speeds. The track is now to the point, however, that entire segments of line need to be replaced with continuous non-welded track in order to continue those higher speeds. Those costs would run into the millions.[/i] [/list] One of three things will occur; the Chief will be rerouted, bidding the Scouts Adios in the process, Amtrak will "pony up' to have the line restored to 79mph standards, or significant time will be added to the Chief's schedule. It is simply unreasonable to expect that BNSF will incur those additional maintenance costs when 40mph freight operation will apparently meet their requirements of service. disclaimer: none [/QB][/QUOTE]
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