Exciting Railway Expansion Proposal
The Pacific Northwest region could soon see exciting new developments in transportation options. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has proposed two new routes in the Pacific Northwest in the new Amtrak long-distance expansion plan. The new planned routes could serve stops without any current train service. Some of the proposed destinations include Yakima, Boise, Missoula, and Pocatello. Additionally, the new infrastructure could offer daily service routes from Seattle to Denver and then another from Seattle to Chicago.
Long-Distance Service Study
The Federal Railroad Administration is currently carrying out a study to evaluate the possibility of expanding daily intercity passenger rail service. The study is particularly focused on restoring previously terminated long-distance service routes or any long-distance service routes that do not currently run every day. Both of the new Pacific Northwest long-distance routes would actually be restoring service to Amtrak routes that had been previously discontinued.
Restored Long-Distance Routes
The proposed Seattle to Denver route would operate on a 1,671 mile stretch, and it would include major stops in Portland, Boise, Pocatello, Ogden, Salt Lake City, and Grand Junction. The Seattle to Chicago route would operate on a 2,096 mile corridor. The proposed route would include reopening previously shuttered rail stations in Yakima and Missoula. Plus, it would bring new service to current operating stations in Kennewick, Spokane, and Sandpoint. Additionally, the new route would provide direct rail service connection from Seattle to the Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland.
Study Parameters
The new study is only focused on employing Amtrak as the service provider rather than other service providers. Additionally, the FRA will only utilize existing railway tracks and employ the use of conventional rail technology rather than build new rail tracks or explore new technologies. The study is expected to be completed by the middle of next year, but new information and recommendations for operations should be available before that time.
Read more about the Federal Railroad Administration’s Long Distance Service Study here.