Overshadowed by Monday’s presidential inauguration was the release of the final report of the Federal Railroad Administration‘s Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study.
The FRA is evaluating the potential restoration of daily long-distance intercity passenger rail service and the potential for new Amtrak long-distance routes as part of the study.
Amtrak’s existing long-distance network is comprised of 15 routes, including the California Zephyr, which crosses Utah on its 2,438-mile journey between Chicago and San Francisco.
A prior Building Salt Lake article announced the plan to add an additional 15 long-distance passenger rail routes, which are intended to fill gaps within Amtrak’s existing system and bring passenger rail to all of the 48-contiguous states.
Details have been finalized regarding the proposed Los Angeles to Denver and Seattle to Denver routes, both of which would serve Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo along with other stations in Utah.
The Los Angeles to Denver route would travel the 1,423 miles in approximately 33 hours. The eastbound train would leave Los Angeles every day at midday and would arrive in Denver one day later in the late evening. Night would occur between Las Vegas and Provo. The train would pass through Provo, Salt Lake City and Ogden each morning of the second day.
The westbound train would leave Denver every day in the early morning and would arrive in Los Angeles one day later in the early afternoon. The train would pass through Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo each evening of the first day. Night would occur between Provo and Las Vegas. The image above gives further details.
While traveling with Amtrak between Los Angeles and Denver is currently possible by riding the Coast Starlight and the California Zephyr, it requires an overnight layover in Emeryville, California. This proposed Los Angeles to Denver route would cut the travel time by more than 24 hours.
The Seattle to Denver route would travel the 1,647 miles in approximately 40 hours. The eastbound train would leave Seattle every day in the early morning and would arrive in Denver one day later in the late evening. Night would occur between Boise and Ogden. The train would pass through Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo each morning of the second day.
The westbound train would leave Denver every day in the late evening and would arrive in Seattle two days later at midday. The first night would occur between Denver and Green River. The train would pass through Provo, Salt Lake City and Ogden each day during the middle of the second day. The second night would occur between Boise and Portland. The image above gives further details.
While traveling with Amtrak between Seattle and Denver is currently possible by riding the Coast Starlight and the California Zephyr, it requires a layover in Sacramento, California. This proposed Seattle to Denver route would cut the travel time by 18 hours.
While the addition of these new routes would greatly shorten travel times between Los Angeles and Denver and between Seattle and Denver and also connect to the Wasatch Front, the routes will also restore passenger rail service to rural communities along corridors that have not had service since the Desert Wind and Pioneer routes were discontinued in 1997.
The 133-page final report and 44-page appendix are available below.
Mike Christensen is a long-time transit expert and executive director of the Utah Rail Passengers Association. He also serves on the Salt Lake City Planning Commission.
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