HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Amtrak has informed federal, state and local officials along the daily Southwest Chief route that, with the enactment of the recent full-year funding bill by Congress, it will provide matching funds to enable a federal grant for safety and reliability upgrades on the train’s route in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.

Earlier this year, Congress passed and the president signed into law the fiscal year 2019 Appropriations Act, which included critical funding for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail service. The legislation set aside at least $50 million of its National Network grant for improvements to the Southwest Chief route that passes through Hutchinson.

Amtrak is using $3 million of these funds to match a $16 million grant successfully sought by these states, counties and cities. The grant and matching funds from the partners will result in an investment of more than $26 million.

Amtrak and BNSF Railway began community discussions regarding needed route safety and other infrastructure improvements in 2011. Since then, more than $80 million has been committed from U.S. Department of Transportation grant programs, state and local governments, Amtrak and BNSF.

Amtrak officials previously proposed replacing train service with bus service between Dodge City and Albuquerque, New Mexico — about a quarter of the 2,265-mile route providing daily train service between Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Southwest Chief, Amtrak Trains 3 and 4, provides daily service between Chicago and Los Angeles and is the shortest and fastest Amtrak route between those cities.