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Heinrich Riding With Amtrak CEO To New Mexico As Push Continues For State Rail Funding

Senator Martin Heinrich (D) New Mexico

  Amtrak's top executive plans to meet with New Mexico officials about keeping the Southwest Chief on its current route.

Amtrak announced that CEO Joe Boardman is taking a special train along the Southwest Chief route from Kansas to Albuquerque.  New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich will travel with Boardman.

Amtrak has warned that the route might be changed unless portions of the track are improved.

Boardman will stop Saturday at Raton, Las Vegas and Lamy. He'll go by car to the Philmont Scout Ranch.

Amtrak has proposed that New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas share maintenance expenses with it and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, which owns the track. Each would provide about $4 million annually for a decade.

New Mexico is studying whether to help pay part of the costs.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.