Caprock Chief

The "Caprock Chief" or "Caprock Xpress" was a proposed Amtrak inter-city rail service which would run from Fort Worth, Texas to Denver, Colorado, passing through the Texas Panhandle, which currently does not have passenger rail service of any kind. Initially proposed 2000-2001, the project has not yet seen significant progress and is unlikely to be implemented. "Caprock" is a geological term for a harder or more resistant rock type overlying a weaker or less resistant rock type, and lends its name to the Caprock Escarpment in the Panhandle area.

Route

The train would run west from Fort Worth across northern Texas, then turn north to run through the Texas Panhandle and the western edge of Oklahoma before entering Colorado. It would serve the following communities: [cite journal | title=Texans think about a new train | url=http://www.nationalcorridors.org/df/df09102001.shtml | journal=Destination: Freedom | publisher=National Corridors Initiative | volume=2 | issue=36 | date=September 10, 2001 | accessdate=2008-05-13]
*Texas: Fort Worth, Weatherford, Eastland, Abilene, Sweetwater, Lubbock, Plainview, Amarillo
*Oklahoma: Boise City
*Colorado: La Junta, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Littleton, and Denver

Both Fort Worth and Denver are served by long-distance trains (the "Texas Eagle" and "California Zephyr", respectively), but there has not been a direct connection between the two cities since the end of most private passenger transportation in 1971. As of 2008, any such trip would have to route via either Chicago, Illinois or the West Coast of the United States, a detour of over a thousand miles.

Fort Worth is also served by the "Heartland Flyer", which connects it to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, while La Junta is a stop on the transcontinental "Southwest Chief". None of the other proposed station stops have train service. In the past there have been proposals to re-route the existing "Sunset Limited" (Los Angeles—Orlando) farther north to serve the Fort Worth—Sweetwater segment. [cite news | title=Amtrak ponders 'Caprock Chief' | date=August 9, 2001 | url=http://www.texnews.com/1998/2001/local/am0809.html | first=Anthony | last=Wilson | work=Abilene Reporter-News | accessdate=2008-05-13]

Development

The impetus for the route came from the Texas Association of Rail Passengers (TARP), which lobbied local governments to support the concept. [cite news | title=New Amtrak route proposed | url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/090701/new_amtrakroute.shtml | first=Max | last=Albright | work=Amarillo Globe-News | date=September 7, 2001 | accessdate=2008-05-14] In early 2002 the Amarillo City Commission voted unanimously in favor of "a resolution supporting proposed Amtrak rail service expansion to provide a direct route through the Panhandle of Texas from Fort Worth, Texas to Denver, Colorado via the Caprock Chief line." [cite web | title=Minutes | url=http://www.ci.amarillo.tx.us/Departments/citymgr/minutes/012202minutes.pdf | date=January 22, 2002 | accessdate=2008-05-13] The Lubbock chamber of commerce also voiced its support for the route, with 92% of its members in favor. [cite news | title=Lubbock officials backing plans for Amtrak rail service | url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/080201/tex_amtrakrail.shtml | date=August 2, 2001 | work=Amarillo Globe-News | accessdate=2008-05-14 | first=Chris | last=Van Wagenen] Commenting on the proposal, representative Mac Thornberry warned that "Having Amtrak service through the Panhandle would be a good thing for our region...but it won't be easy. Our nation's rail infrastructure faces some serious challenges, and Amtrak is already heavily subsidized by the taxpayers. Any new routes will have to improve Amtrak's financial situation, rather than make it worse." [cite news | title=Editorial: Caprock Chief has possibilities | work=Amarillo Globe-News | url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/012702/opi_edit1.shtml | date=Sunday, January 27, 2002 | accessdate=2008-05-14]

In late 2001 a visit by Amtrak officials to Lubbock produced discussion, but no commitment from the corporation. [cite news | title=Lubbock has shot at Amtrak: Company official unwilling to rule out bringing rail service | url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/110801/bus_1108010003.shtml | work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | first=Chris | last=Van Wagenen | date=November 8, 2001 | accessdate=2008-05-14] By 2004 the president of the TARP acknowledged that the proposal was dead: "It's probably years off before this can be considered...We figure you've got to start talking about it at some point. It has to be an idea and you have to develop that idea." [cite news | title=Passenger trains not an option for us | first=George | last=Schwarz | url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/062704/bus_optionforus.shtml | work=Amarillo Globe-News | date=June 25, 2004 | accessdate=2008-05-14]

Notes

See also

*Ports to Plains Corridor

External links

* [http://www.txarp.org/ Texas Association of Rail Passengers]