Posted on 04/29/2025 10:04:38 AM PDT by Morgana
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) submitted a report to Congress urging action to restore passenger train service. The report proposes a daily Amtrak route from Portland to Denver, with stops in Baker City, Oregon. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
Amtrak ended its Pioneer Route in 1997, and efforts to revive it have occurred sporadically since then. Oregon’s senators have endorsed the idea multiple times, advocating for the route’s return. In 2021, Congress instructed the FRA to evaluate potential new long-distance train routes, including the Pioneer Route. The recent FRA report highlights the Pioneer Route as one of its proposed daily runs.
A local group from Baker County collected 1,090 signatures in 2024, supporting the route’s restoration. These signatures were sent to Amtrak, the FRA, and state legislators. Despite this effort, the report emphasizes that restoring service requires further analysis. The FRA stresses the need for extensive planning, engineering studies, and cost assessments before making final recommendations.
Amtrak Pioneer Route Gains Support from FRA and Local Advocates
Funding remains a major challenge for reinstating the Pioneer Route, as long-distance operations rely heavily on federal support. Unlike regional services, these routes lack state or local funding contributions. The FRA report outlines the need for federal commitment to sustain the operational costs of new routes.
The timing of the FRA report coincides with the cancellation of Greyhound’s bus route between Portland and Boise. This development underscores the importance of improving transportation options for rural areas. Advocates argue that rail service could provide a sustainable and reliable alternative to existing transit.
Matt Krabacher, a Baker City resident and vice president of the Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates (AORTA), expressed strong support for the FRA’s findings. He called the inclusion of the Pioneer Route in the report “hugely important” for advancing the project.
“The FRA has established the Pioneer as a national priority, giving states a reason to pursue its restoration,” Krabacher said. He believes the report provides a solid foundation for convincing lawmakers to support the project. Without federal recognition, persuading legislators to back the route would have been much harder.
Funding Challenges for Amtrak’s Pioneer Route Restoration
Krabacher emphasized that the FRA report legitimizes the route as a viable option for expanding the national rail network. He noted that federal funding is already available to cover the majority of costs associated with creating new rail connections.
“Having the Pioneer Route in this report allows citizens to pressure their legislators with clear evidence,” Krabacher said. He sees the FRA’s endorsement as a game changer, reducing barriers to securing state-level support for the project.
The FRA’s assessment is a critical first step in a long process toward restoring passenger rail service. The report’s findings highlight the potential for federal investment to revitalize the Pioneer Route and strengthen regional transportation infrastructure. Advocates like Krabacher remain optimistic, believing the project could benefit both the economy and the environment.
Restoring the Pioneer Route would connect rural communities in Eastern Oregon with larger urban centers. Improved rail service could boost tourism, provide a sustainable alternative to driving, and offer a critical link for travelers. The FRA’s report sets the stage for further collaboration between federal, state, and local stakeholders to make this vision a reality.
Seems to me that rail travel will be almost exclusively for pleasure, so if they can create a good experience and find a way to make the cost attractive, I can see it working for tourist travel. For example, the nearest AMTRAK station to Yellowstone is 5-6 hours away, so how would that work for anyone?
I love Amtrak and will take it over United Airlines any day of the week
There is nothing cheap about the rail portion. There is nothing efficient about the rail portion. I am hoping the experience of it will be worth it.
“on an airplane it’s worse than Greyhound ever was...”
I agree with that.
If amtrak had dedicated rail it would be a WHOLE different experience to be sure.....having to slow down or stop to give the freighters the right of way is a pain.
All depends on the route. Some rail trips thru Colorado are amazing, and expensive :(
Are there even track near Yellowstone? In 1985 my family went out west by Amtrak. We rode the Pioneer to Pocatello, Idaho, got off at about 3 am and rented a car then drove to Yellowstone. I would have to ask my Dad how long the drive was from Pocatello to Yellowstone was because honestly I was asleep.
http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/pioneer.htm
Except for specific, short routes, it's nowhere near cost effective.
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Assuming they will use their old timetable here is their stops
http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/pioneer.htm
I found an old timetable:
http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/pioneer_1996_1110_timetable.jpg
Leave Portland noon Monday. Arrive Denver 6pm Tuesday. I’d say 30 hours. If I read it correctly.
Many of us remember freeper Willie Green, who never met a train route he didn’t love. He disappeared long ago.
If we are going to make train routes based on political pressure, then we cannot get upset with Amtrak for losing money.
I have ridden Amtrak many years ago, and I had no problem with the New Haven to DC route. My experience going to Chicago on a train was less than perfect, as it seemed to go around 15 miles per hour on some track in Indiana. It wound up being a 23 hour trip. I cannot argue with skipping the airport experience, especially if business takes you to a central hub and a rental car can be avoided.
“If amtrak had dedicated rail it would be a WHOLE different experience to be sure.....having to slow down or stop to give the freighters the right of way is a pain.”
Even if a private company took over they woulds till have to give fright the right of way, they own the rails. Yes it’s a pain but like I said it beats the unfriendly skies. I had to explain to people on the train why we had to wait but then I said “this is good and services going to our stores or amazon deliveries. Once they are off the train they get onto trucks and are delivered to your local shop or to your home” Once people understood this they were cool and were like ‘let the freight train pass, I’m expecting an Amazon package’.
If they use that timetable, they won’t even stop in Baker City once, let alone multiple stops there.
I was shocked the number of people on Amtrak and I suspect the numbers will get larger in the future as people get more upset with the airlines.
The one thing about Amtrak is you can’t be in a rush to get where you are going. Then again with the airlines these days you can’t always even depend the plane will even take off on time or at all. Then the airlines overbook and you can’t get on. With Amtrak you can rely on the fact that is is always late but you will get there.
I figure there will be changes, that is an old timetable. These things will all have to be ironed out. BTW what state is Baker city in?
I haven’t flown in over two decades.
And I won’t until people go back to being passengers instead of cargo.
I know folks who like AMTRAK.
But after seeing the far superior service to be had in Japan and Europe, which costs less than AMTRAK usually, I have no desire to use AMTRAK.
Maybe Pres. Trump will task his transpo secretary with making train travel great again...
It’s in NE Oregon. Ranching, logging, and mining mostly. Very nice country.
Train travel was great before it had competition, then....it wasn't.
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