Study: Amtrak route would need federal subsidy

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 10:35 AM PDT

POCATELLO (AP) — A feasibility study looking at restoring passenger rail service through southern Idaho and eastern Oregon concludes that the Amtrak route would lose money each year and be dependent on federal subsidies to make ends meet.

The study also estimates that costs to get Amtrak’s Pioneer Route up and running — including refurbishing passenger cars, restoring depots, training workers and making infrastructure improvements — could exceed $400 million.

The route, which once stretched from Denver to Portland with stops in Salt Lake City, Pocatello and Boise, was discontinued in 1997 due to financial losses.

Congressional leaders have been working to restore it, claiming the region needs more transportation options.

In the report released late last week, Amtrak vowed to work aggressively with state and federal partners to restore the route if Congress agrees to kick in the startup and annual operating costs.

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Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, who along with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. pushed for the study, said the costs of restoring the Pioneer are higher than expected.

But he said southern Idaho residents ‘‘remain underserved by commercial air carriers and mass transit.’’

The consultants hired to do the study agreed, concluding that reintroducing the Pioneer Route would strengthen the nation’s passenger rail network and help bring direct service between the Intermountain West and the Pacific Northwest.

Rail service also brings environmental benefits. The study reports that passenger rail service is 17 percent more energy efficient than air travel and 21 percent more energy efficient than auto travel.

The study considered four route options:

— Salt Lake City to Seattle: Annual ridership estimated at 102,000 passengers, producing $11.6 million in revenue and projected operating loss of $25 million.

— Denver to Seattle. Ridership estimated at 111,000 passengers, with revenue of $13.1 million and annual operating loss of $33.1 million.

— Salt Lake City to Portland: Ridership estimated at 82,000 passengers, with revenue projected at $7.6 million and operating loss of $28.3 million.

— Denver to Portland. Ridership pegged at 95,000 passengers, with revenue estimated at $9.2 million and losses at $35.3 million.

Amtrak’s dependence on federal subsidies is nothing new. Each of Amtrak’s routes around the nation is subsidized.

The report also notes that all figures are estimates and subject to review and change.

Despite the costs, Crapo spokesman Lindsay Nothern says Idaho’s senior senator does not intend to soften his support for bringing passenger rail service back to the region.

‘‘He really is a believer that to be competitive in this economic environment, you have to have the infrastructure,’’ Nothern told the Idaho State Journal. ‘‘We feel Idaho should be able to access the same type of transportation options as other folks around the country.’’

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.