Amtrak to Halt L.A.-Las Vegas-Salt Lake Line

Amtrak said it will terminate two money-losing passenger train routes: the Desert Wind from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City via Las Vegas and the Pioneer linking Denver and Seattle. But it said it granted Texas and Massachusetts more time to craft financial packages to save targeted routes in those states. Amtrak said it will restore daily service to the full California Zephyr route between Chicago and San Francisco and will resume daily service to the full route of the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle via Minneapolis-St. Paul. The Desert Wind and Pioneer service will be discontinued May 10, though Amtrak said it is reviewing alternatives that could continue service between L.A. and Las Vegas. Separately, several U.S. lawmakers announced plans for an independent panel to study ways for Amtrak to avoid bankruptcy.