(The following story by Kathy Gilbert appeared on the Green River Star website on July 8, 2009.)
GREEN RIVER, Wyo. — Yes, that was Amtrak going through Green River, and no, that doesn’t mean passenger train service is back in Wyoming.
Several local residents have seen Amtrak’s passenger trains passing through Green River or on the track between the town and the mines.
According to Dick Hartman of Union Pacific, the train is using this route because of maintenance being done on the usual route through Colorado
“Whenever there’s maintenance on the tracks in Colorado, we use the route through Wyoming,” Hartman said.
He said currently work is being done to the Moffatt Tunnel near Glenwood Springs, Colo.
“There is also a tie gang working in that area, so Amtrak is using what was the old Pioneer route,” Hartman said.
He said the passenger train occasionally stops in Green River if there is a crew change.
Wyoming lost rail passenger service in 1978 but then in the late 1980s, the Wyoming congressional delegation convinced Amtrak to try again.
That attempt was just not profitable and, in less than a year, Amtrak was gone for good.
“Lots of people would like to see it come back, and every few years Amtrak reevaluates their routes, but I don’t see it happening,” Hartman said.