By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As Amtrak continues to struggle to get out from under what has been a very difficult summer, hearings were held in Washington on the next group of nominees to the rail passenger carriers board. That hearing included Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran who helped with efforts to keep Amtrak's Southwest Chief service intact to western Kansas.
“All of those nominees, especially the chairmen, spoke especially strong that he and the board and those nominees are fully committed to long distance service,” Moran said. “ [My goal is] making certain that Amtrak and its leadership recognizes that there is something more to Amtrak than the routes around the northeast corridor where there is lots of traffic.”
The Southwest Chief has been the subject of many proposals from moving the routes to the BNSF transcon line and eliminating service in western Kansas and Colorado to eliminating train service from Kansas City to Albuquerque, New Mexico and bussing passengers between the two cities. Moran says he liked what he heard during the hearings this week.
"I was satisfied with the commitment that these new nominees and these returning nominees to the board made to me in response to my questions on the record about the Southwest Chief and the desire of that board to do everything they can to make sure that long distance passenger service continues," Moran said.
Moran says Amtrak must continue to provide good service to long distance routes despite the high cost.
“We know that Amtrak service is not going to generate more money than it costs,” Moran said. “But that’s the mission of Amtrak and we want them to live up to that mission.”
Amtrak has had to endure major delays in trans due to increased freight traffic, rail maintenance projects and a lack of work crews and equipment. The shortages in equipment and personnel have forced the rail carrier to limit schedules on some long distance routes to five days per week.