GDT > Projects > Mountain Rail
Passenger rail service from Denver through Steamboat Springs and on to Craig could be re-established thanks to a $5 million investment that will allow the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to study the rail line as well as statewide transit connectivity, such as the Bustang system on I-70 and how it can grow in the future.
Local communities along the Yampa Valley have brought attention to the potential to re-establish passenger rail, specifically along the 191-mile Union Pacific Railroad (UP) route that runs from Denver through Winter Park and Steamboat Springs, ending in Craig. Passenger rail service along this route ended in 1968 and today the only rail traffic is a single coal train that runs once per week.
Mountain Rail Map
What would the train interiors be like?
Trains operating on the Western Rail routes will typically be making inter-regional journeys of approximately 1 to 4 hours in length. The trains should be equipped with a variety of facilities to ensure comfort, convenience, and accessibility for passengers. Click below for examples of what should typically be found on board.
Could Colorado be a suitable location for a Pop Up Metro?
The Pop Up Metro concept, which not only includes the battery-powered, remanufactured London subway cars, but power systems, platforms and other elements needed to launch a rail service, has been demonstrated by the Railroad Development Corporation (RDC) at the Rockill Trolley Museum in Pennsylvania since 2021. The aim is to dramatically slash infrastructure costs and implementation times.
The downside is that, due to FRA rules, the trains cannot share rail alignments with freight trains at the same time. They either need dedicated tracks or an agreement with the host freight railroad for exclusive use – at least during passenger train operating hours. That said, the Tennessee Pass line or the Yampa Valley may be suitable locations for the Pop Up Metro concept.
More Rail Content…
