By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Although President Biden’s major transportation infrastructure plan provides little for actual transportation, it does provide a major infusion of funds for Amtrak. It could mean expanded service in Kansas.
“The President has set the table with about $80 billion in funds for an expanded and improved Amtrak network,” Amtrak Spokesperson Marc Magliari said. “ That’s an idea that hasn’t had a lot of discussion lately and places where it has had a lot of discussion.”
Magliari says the expansion could mean Amtrak service to Wichita.
“Kansas has the advantage of having an active conversation with us and KDOT, and the Oklahoma DOT about extending our service that stops right now in Oklahoma City,” Magliari said. “It could continue up to Newton or perhaps even further.”
The Heartland Flyer route has been under the expansion plans of Amtrak for several years but has never gained as much transaction as now. Right now, buses carry passengers from Newton to Oklahoma City through Wichita. Newton is easily the busiest station in Kansas. It's also a far different outlook for Amtrak than two years ago. Back then, Amtrak's President and CEO said some major long distance routes should have busses intermixed with the train routes.
Other cities such as Phoenix and Las Vegas could also see service again under the proposal. Most have been without Amtrak since 1979. That includes Wichita. The Air Capital lost train service when Amtrak eliminated the Chicago to Houston Lone Star in 1979.
Amtrak is also set to take on a long list of new equipment, including new locomotives to replace its aging Genesis fleet on long distance trains along with new coaches. Those locomotives could be on long distance routes this summer.
Amtrak is also preparing to ramp up service again on the SW Chief that serves Kansas. It and the other long distance routes are set to go back to daily service in May. Service had been cut to three times per week due to a lack of ridership during the pandemic. It also forced the rail carrier to lay off some 2,200 employees.