Well, lessee...... Friscobob's Plan for Expanding Amtrak 1. Extend the Heartland Flyer from Okie City north either on the ex-ATSF to Wellington (and a connection with the Southwest Chief, which would make this train a resurrection of the Lone Star), or northeast to Tulsa, then up to Kansas City via the ex-Frisco. Call it the Firefly, or the Will Rogers. 2. A connection with the SW Chief at La Junta to Denver 3. Bring back the Texas Zephyr, and run a train from Denver to Dallas/Ft. Worth- It can connect with the TX Eagle at the T&P depot in Ft. Worth, and the Cal Zephyr in Denver (and the SW Chief in Trinidad, CO) 4. Cut the Sunset LTD back to LA- New Orleans 5. Put a Cal Zephyr connection run between Omaha and Kansas City 6. Bring back the Twin Star Rocket from KC to Minneapolis, via Des Moines 7. Bring back the Desert Wind! My list, anyway........
Above are all good suggestions, esp. the auto-train (WHY hasn't Amtrak pushed that idea more all these years? BUT, Congress and Administration would be more likely to listen if our wishes were backed up by solid, serious market research to find out just where demand REALLY IS TODAY; I think they might go for $$ to fund that at this point when Amtrak is at a crossroads. As far as specifics I'd like to see at least Chicago-Nashville-Atlanta-Macon-Jacksonville and (dreamer!) a Phoenix-Southern California Maglev line (to San Bernardino or Riverside area, connect w/Metro). James E. Bradley Hawk Mountain Chapter N.R.H.S.
There ya go! A Million dollar a year, 5 year long study of what they "should" do. Why not... Ain't like we don't have the money to burn. Sorry... Not a flame on you. Just on the flakesthat think paying a lot of money for people to "run around" asking questions is silly.
