Amtrak looking for consultant on Pioneer Route between Salt Lake City and Seattle

A spokesman for Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho says Amtrak has started a search for a consultant as a step in possibly restoring the Pioneer Route.

[David]

I would love to see the Amtrak "Pioneer" route restored. And why not restore the line between Salt Lake and Los Angelos as well? I looked into taking the train and right now you would need to go from Salt Lake clear to San francisco, and catch another train down to LA. Plus that would restore service to Las Vegas!(Currently there is no train service to Vegas)

David :)

[Emelie]

Restoring the Pioneer route is a fantastic idea if we think forward. Note that in the summer of ‘08 when fuel prices hit $4 a gallon, Amtrak filled their trains. Fuel prices will climb again as world oil reserves decline or become more expensive to extract. In my mind, it is a no brainer. While it may not be cost effective in the next 6-8 years, it will pay off in the long run, reduce global CO2, reduce transportation costs for individual Americans, and provide underserved communities with a mass transit system that they do not currently have.

Of course, I may be a bit bias. I LOVE train travel.