While city leaders affected by the Amtrak issues testify in Topeka the two other states involved are taking two widely different stances on the future of the Southwest Chief. In New Mexico money is being allocated to do a cost benefit study on the Chief.

The study will be conducted by New Mexico University and cost 150-thousand dollars. The second is a funding measure for 4 million dollars for FY-2015, to finance track maintenance for the Chief through New Mexico. But the bill says the money will not be allocated unless Colorado and Kansas come up with similar funding to help support the Chief which is unlikely in Kansas.

Colorado meanwhile not only wants to see Amtrak continue, they want it rerouted to expand service to two more cities. The Colorado Legislature is considering a House bill that would work at encouraging Amtrak to continue service in Colorado and to reroute the train from La Junta west to Pueblo, then turn the train south to include a stop in Walesburg and then on to Trinidad where it would intercept the current route again. Currently the train turns south at La Junta and makes its next stop at Trinidad. Bills in those states and the current testimony before the House Transportation committee in Topeka all will need to fall together in order to preserve the current Amtrak route.