There could be some major changes coming to an Amtrak line, and it could affect Galesburg. Recently Amtrak announced plans to change the Southwest Chief which include changing the ending route in Kansas, and then shipping passengers on a bus to New Mexico, before boarding another train to California. Galesburg Mayor John Pritchard says that because Galesburg is a high traffic stop for the Chief, creating a hassle for travelers will see a decrease in travelers into and out of Galesburg, seeing a cutoff from Galesburg to the West.
“Galesburg Illinois happens to be one of the top stops, number eight in fact, in the number of people that board and use the Southwest Chief.” explains Pritchard. “If Galesburg loses the Southwest Chief and the [California] Zephyr, then we really don’t have any rail access to the West.”
He says he believes that the newer CEO of Amtrak, Richard Anderson, doesn’t understand the nature of the rail service or how it operates. Pritchard says that citizens who want to see the Southwest Chief and other long-distance trains saved need to contact congressmen and women in Washington.
