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Passenger rail may come back to Pocatello
Topic Started: April 3 2009, 02:22 PM (81 Views)
Gandalf
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POCATELLO, Idaho -- Eastern Idaho could soon see a return of passenger rail service, television station KIFI reported.

In 1997, passenger rail service by Amtrak on the Pioneer Route was stopped in Pocatello. There are now talks about that service possibly coming back to the Gate City and other cities throughout Idaho.

Many folks Local News 8 talked to Wednesday afternoon are very excited about the chance to see passenger trains rolling through Pocatello again. Not only for another mode of getting around But giving a boost to the local economy.

Sam Nettinga is hoping Amtrak passenger rail service becomes another option for travel through Pocatello.

"It would be far, far cheaper for people to commute back and forth to the west coast and for that matter back into Chicago in the middle of the united states, if we could get hundreds of them on a railroad car," said Sam Nettinga, who is hoping service comes back.

Nettinga says he believes there will be riders. One of the issues riders faced when passenger service was available was the schedule was inconvenient. The train would travel through Montpelier and Soda Springs, up through Pocatello, onto Shoshone then through Boise and Nampa before heading to Oregon.

Up until 1997, freight trains like and passenger trains came through Pocatello. But then passenger rail service stopped. But now with the new resolution on the books, passenger rail service could be returning to the Gate City. Folks say a passenger train is a great idea to help boost the economy.

"They're filling hotel rooms every night. Staying here and staying over and then getting on and going back the other direction," said Nettinga.

"It can bring us attention and bring us money and be a good thing for the city and the railroad," said Gene Wiggers, who is supporting passenger service.

"People are kind of hesitant about going to the airports anymore because it's such a pain. Even though there would be check out on the trains of course, but it's just an alternative way of travel and you get to see the countryside," said Shayne Stoakes, who would take the new passenger rail service.

According to Amtrak, ridership has increased nationally. Something that Nettinga says will hold true in the gate city. "It will give that traveler, particularly the foreign travelers that come into the country an opportunity to ride rail," said Nettinga.

Thursday night the Pocatello City Council will vote on whether or not they want to support Amtrak's return. If this does happen supporters say we could see passenger rail service again in the next three to four years.

The Passenger Rail Improvement Act of 2008 directed Amtrak to perform a study looking into the restoration of passenger rail service. This has to be completed by October of this year.

(The preceding report by Genevieve Judge appeared on the Web site of television station KIFI at www.localnews8.com on April 1, 2009.)
April 2, 2009
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