In 1997, the last regular passenger train rolled out of the Boise Depot.
In the 22 years since many hoped to bring Amtrak back to Idaho. But the depot on the Boise bench remains quiet.
In 2007, Sen. Mike Crapo mounted an “aggressive” push to reignite funding for Amtrak’s Pioneer line. It made it out of the senate but never came to fruition.
BoiseDev.com reports, nearly 100 people rallied in La Grande, over the weekend in support of restoring the Pioneer Line.
A group hopes to bring the heartbeat of train travel back to the route from Portland, through La Grande and Boise and down to Salt Lake City.
To bring service back, not only would a funding source need to be secured, but infrastructure along the line would need to be repaired.
For now, the group doesn’t have a firm plan – but hopes a “team effort” will get the trains rolling down the tracks again.
