During a recent government meeting, discussions centered on the performance and future of Amtrak's Southwest Chief route, which has been struggling with on-time performance, achieving only 34% punctuality over the past year. Senator Lujan commended President Biden for nominating several Amtrak board members from the Western United States, emphasizing the need for board members who understand the unique challenges faced by long-distance routes in the region.

The senator posed a critical question to the nominees regarding their commitment to advocating for increased funding to address outdated equipment and maintenance issues within the long-distance network. All nominees expressed their support for this initiative.

The conversation also touched on past attempts to replace the Southwest Chief service with bus routes. Mr. Batory, a nominee and former Federal Railroad Administration administrator, shared his opposition to these efforts, stating that he had taken a personal interest in preserving the route and had found no justification for its degradation.

Further discussions included a quote from former President Trump, who had suggested that Amtrak's long-distance trains no longer served a vital transportation purpose. In response, nominee Ms. Vartore disagreed with this assessment, asserting the importance of maintaining and potentially expanding service on the Southwest Chief line.

As the meeting concluded, nominees pledged to work collaboratively with the committee and provide timely responses to requests for information, highlighting their commitment to addressing important policy issues related to Amtrak's services. The meeting underscored the ongoing advocacy for the Southwest Chief and the broader implications for long-distance rail travel in the United States.