Welcome to the Western Rail Coalition
The Western Rail Coalition is a group of elected officials, industry leaders, transportation advocates and private citizens from the Rocky Mountain region who have come together to support the studying of expanded passenger rail in the I-70 Mountain Corridor west of the Front Range. Please view our introductory letter below:
Why Rail?
The Interstate 70 (I-70) Mountain corridor remains one of the largest and most visible transportation challenges faced by Coloradans today due to mountain towns and ski resorts being depended on a highway that has been crammed in to the numerous picturesque valleys and canyons. The result is a road that is challenging to drive, and suffers from frequent (at least once a month) closures due to accidents or bad weather. Rail offers a viable alternative to this.
Most mountain resident’s experience of rail in the corridor is that of noisy, dirty freight trains laboring up gradients that cause traffic congestion when they block grade crossings. Additionally concerns about what happens to hazardous cargo in the event of a derailment are common place. The coalition aims to articulate a vision of what a modern passenger rail alternative could look like and why it is a lot different to what residents may have been used to previously.
New Train For Colorado
It is hoped that the long term solution for rolling stock on the Front Range Passenger Rail corridor is provided by the New Train for Colorado concept which envisages a fleet of modern, fast, lightweight, highly efficient trains with superior on-board amenities connecting towns and cities all over the state.
Who is behind the Western Rail Coalition?
The Western Rail Coalition is being spearheaded by local people who understand the area’s transportation issues such as elected officials, civic leaders, members of the business community, advocates and engaged private citizens. Technical advice and support is also being gratefully received from Greater Denver Transit, a transit advocacy organization based in the Denver Metro area.
Proposed Western Rail Map
What’s included in the Western Rail Proposals?
Western Rail Projects
- Upgrades to the core Denver to Grand Junction Central Corridor.
- Reopening the mothballed Tennessee Pass Line from Dotsero to Pueblo.
- Introducing passenger trains in the Uncompahgre Valley between Grand Junction and Montrose.
- Introducing passenger trains in the Yampa Valley between Bond and Craig.
- Establishing a “rolling road” truck train service between Denver and Grand Junction as an alternative to I-70.
Other Colorado Rail Projects
- Front Range Passenger Rail from Fort Collins to Pueblo.
- Mountain Rail from Denver to Craig.
Longer Term Vision Concepts
- Reinstating rail in the Roaring Fork Valley between Glenwood Springs and Aspen.
- Construction of a Telluride Rail Link between Montrose and Telluride.
- Construction of a Crested Butte Rail Link between Gunnison and Crested Butte.
- Construction of a new rail alignment between Winter Park and Minturn to serve Silverthorne and Vail.
Download our white paper and fact sheet here…
More Western Rail Content…
