FRA Announces New Amtrak Routes

[Garrett]

The Federal Railroad Administration has officially announced new proposed routes for Amtrak. Omaha would gain a route running from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls, Omaha, down to KC, and then to Phoenix. Des Moines would also get service for the first time in decades, with a route running from Minneapolis to KC and down to San Antonio.



Fully presentation:
FRA Long Distance Rail Study

[Brad]

Wow, that Western Nebraska / South Dakota line would be cool. That track would need some serious upgrades, but completely doable...

[NEDodger]

Does Rapid City have/would be getting a station? I could see a Mount Rushmore/Black Hills destination.

[Brad]

Does Rapid City have/would be getting a station? I could see a Mount Rushmore/Black Hills destination.

I was thinking the same thing. Rapid and/or Wall (Badlands National Park) would be cool.

[NEDodger]

Does Rapid City have/would be getting a station? I could see a Mount Rushmore/Black Hills destination.

I was thinking the same thing. Rapid and/or Wall (Badlands National Park) would be cool.

Free ice water and 5 cent hot coffee! At least that’s what maybe 1 or 2 billboards tell me….

[Garrett]

Does Rapid City have/would be getting a station? I could see a Mount Rushmore/Black Hills destination.

Yep! If you go into the presentation they do a more detailed breakdown of each of the routes, including other possible alignments.

[ita]

This is really cool! KC would be a hub for the midwest. This will be interesting to watch. Based on my quick perusal of the presentation, it looks like the route that would bring in DSM to the network is part of the long distance route from Minneapolis to Dallas. It seems like they could just use the new Minneapolis-Sioux Falls-Omaha-KC to complete that long distance route.

You can submit comments by March 4 for additional consideration at this website: https://fralongdistancerailstudy.org/

[halgy]

Routes to Sioux Falls and Kansas City are exactly what I want. Even at basic Amtrak speeds, they would be much more doable than a Denver/Chicago trip.

[almighty_tuna]

Do these new routes use existing rail or will some segments require new track?

[Brad]

Do these new routes use existing rail or will some segments require new track?

So the Western Nebraska rail line starts on the BNSF which should be good to go. However it would move over to the Nebraska Northwestern or Nebkota Railway (Cant remember which name it uses now) at Crawford. Then at Chadron it would take the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad. Both the NNW and the RCP&E would need to upgrade their old slow track.

The routes around Omaha could all be on existing track. Might need some slight reconfigurations depending on who's line they are using in to Omaha. There is currently no perfect rout from KC to Omaha to Sioux City that wouldn't require new switches or shuffling power around in Omaha.

[almighty_tuna]

Do these new routes use existing rail or will some segments require new track?

So the Western Nebraska rail line starts on the BNSF which should be good to go. However it would move over to the Nebraska Northwestern or Nebkota Railway (Cant remember which name it uses now) at Crawford. Then at Chadron it would take the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad. Both the NNW and the RCP&E would need to upgrade their old slow track.

The routes around Omaha could all be on existing track. Might need some slight reconfigurations depending on who's line they are using in to Omaha. There is currently no perfect rout from KC to Omaha to Sioux City that wouldn't require new switches or shuffling power around in Omaha.

What are the odds of new sections allowing interstate speed?

[Brad]

Do these new routes use existing rail or will some segments require new track?

So the Western Nebraska rail line starts on the BNSF which should be good to go. However it would move over to the Nebraska Northwestern or Nebkota Railway(Cant remember which name it uses now) at Crawford. Then at Chadron it would take the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad. Both the NNW and the RCP&E would need to upgrade their old slow track.

The routes around Omaha could all be on existing track. Might need some slight reconfigurations depending on who's line they are using in to Omaha. There is currently no perfect rout from KC to Omaha to Sioux City that wouldn't require new switches or shuffling power around in Omaha.

What are the odds of new sections allowing interstate speed?

I would assume any route added to the Amtrak system would be upgraded with better rail, new ties and beefed up bridges?

[Mapguy]

I dont think this line would make money---at best it would come close to breaking even excluding construction and trainset costs.

I dont know if theres political will to have these states fund Amtrak for additional service which is how many other states have lines setup.

I feel like Omaha would be the biggest beneficiary since it would get a destination north and south so maybe there would be more political interest from NE than MO or SD.

[ProgKingHughesker]

I dont think this line would make money---at best it would come close to breaking even excluding construction and trainset costs.

I dont know if theres political will to have these states fund Amtrak for additional service which is how many other states have lines setup.

I feel like Omaha would be the biggest beneficiary since it would get a destination north and south so maybe there would be more political interest from NE than MO or SD.

They could probably make money with both Omaha and KC area passengers if they put in a stop by KCI with shuttle service. I know Milwaukee and BWI have Amtrak stops that are used like commuter rail, and there's probably others

Heck, a shuttle service to Eppley (or at least a Metro route that runs airport-station-airport at the time of day the train arrives that's free with an Amtrak ticket) wouldn't be a bad idea

[thenewguy]

Does Rapid City have/would be getting a station? I could see a Mount Rushmore/Black Hills destination.

I was thinking the same thing. Rapid and/or Wall (Badlands National Park) would be cool.

Free ice water and 5 cent hot coffee! At least that’s what maybe 1 or 2 billboards tell me….

these signs must be new. I've been there and didn't see a single one ;)

[NEDodger]

Does Rapid City have/would be getting a station? I could see a Mount Rushmore/Black Hills destination.

I was thinking the same thing. Rapid and/or Wall (Badlands National Park) would be cool.

Free ice water and 5 cent hot coffee! At least that’s what maybe 1 or 2 billboards tell me….

these signs must be new. I've been there and didn't see a single one ;)

I had to look this up. Apparently at their peak in the 1960s, Wall Drug had over 3,000 highway signs!!

[thenewguy]

Does Rapid City have/would be getting a station? I could see a Mount Rushmore/Black Hills destination.

I was thinking the same thing. Rapid and/or Wall (Badlands National Park) would be cool.

Free ice water and 5 cent hot coffee! At least that’s what maybe 1 or 2 billboards tell me….

these signs must be new. I've been there and didn't see a single one ;)

I had to look this up. Apparently at their peak in the 1960s, Wall Drug had over 3,000 highway signs!!

dear Lord. I mean there are still probably 50 along there. They keep reminding you about water, and there's no where to pull of to use the restroom, haha