HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Amtrak’s wishes to cut back or eliminate long-distance train service will not go down without a fight.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran joined a group of bipartisan senators from states spanning the country in urging Amtrak to uphold its public-private partnership to continue operating the Southwest Chief passenger train and long-distance passenger service, particularly through rural communities.

The letter was also signed by Pat Roberts. The letter was sent to Amtrak President and CEO Richard H. Anderson and expresses deep concern that Amtrak is considering suspending operation of the Southwest Chief passenger train and is focusing on a plan to replace long-distance train service along the route with bus service.

The Southwest Chief stops in several Kansas communities including Hutchinson, Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Dodge City and Garden City.

Amtrak came under fire recently when it announced cuts in service then reneged on $3 million in matching funds from a TIGER grant that was approved in New Mexico for renovation of the Southwest Chief line. It was five years ago that Amtrak threatened to move the Chief off the line unless states chipped in to renovate the BNSF line that only Amtrak uses. Since then, states and cities along the route secured three grants and invested large sums of money to make the needed repairs.

Amtrak says a drop in ridership is the reason for eliminating a part of the Chief route, although ridership fell by just 2,000 last year to 363,000 passengers.