In September 2006, the Colorado Transportation Commission approved a $1,246,000 grant for a high-speed rail feasibility study on corridors in Colorado, including the Front Range. The proposed line was dubbed the 'RangerXpress' and received high-profile support from Colorado Senator Ken Salazar. The stated goal of the organization was to start commuter rail along the Front Range by the time the Regional Transportation District's FasTracks mass transit started service in 2014. In December 2004, Colorado State Representative Bob Briggs of Westminster founded the Front Range Commuter Rail organization. In March 2002, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) nevertheless applied for designation of the 'Rocky Mountain High Speed Rail Corridor' along I-25 and I-70.

Ten were listed by the December 2001 funding deadline, though none in the mountain west.

With the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, Congress authorized the US Department of Transportation to designate eleven federal high-speed rail corridors for targeted development. The group has regularly advocated for the Front Range route, and in 1997 played a role in starting Amtrak Thruway bus service along the corridor from Denver to Raton. In 1989, rail supporters involved in preserving Denver Union Station formed the nonprofit Colorado Rail Passenger Association (ColoRail). The Denver–Cheyenne segment was last served in 1997 by the Pioneer. Pueblo–Denver passenger service existed until the formation of Amtrak in 1971. In the 19th century, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad each built lines along the Front Range (now owned by BNSF and Union Pacific, respectively). History Cheyenne Depot, now a railroad museum Boulder Depot, now a restaurant Denver Union Station, served by Amtrak's California Zephyr and Winter Park Express D&RGW Depot in Colorado Springs, now a shopping center Pueblo Union Depot, a proposed southern terminus for Front Range service Momentum has grown significantly in the 2020s with Colorado creating the Front Range Passenger Rail District and Amtrak including the route in its 15-year expansion vision. A series of studies performed since the early 2000s have shown mounting interest in renewed service. Extensions south to Trinidad, Albuquerque, and even El Paso have been discussed.įront Range communities were historically connected by rail transit until the mid-20th century. Most proposals envision a route from Pueblo north to Colorado Springs, Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and usually Cheyenne. Front Range Passenger Rail is a proposed inter-city passenger train service along the Front Range and broader I-25 corridors in Colorado and Wyoming.

Fort carson southern dubbed range map