Sen. Mike Crapo
Consultants hired to look at restoring passenger rail service to southern Idaho and eastern Oregon say Amtrak service would help a region in need of more transportation options.
But their preliminary report says bringing back Amtrak’s Pioneer Route would be costly and would not pay for itself without substantial subsidies.
The Pioneer Route stretched from Denver to Portland and included stops in between in places like Boise. The route was discontinued in 1997 because of financial losses.
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo has joined Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden in advocating for the restoration of Amtrak service.
US Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is in favor of restoring Amtrak service in Idaho
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Amtrak will accept comment until Oct. 1 on the preliminary study. A final report will be presented by Oct. 15 to Congress, which may have the final say in restoring Amtrak service. (AP)
