WASHINGTON — In a boost to efforts to maintain the route of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, a federal grant will pay for installation of positive train control on 179 miles of track between Dodge City, Kan., and Las Animas, Colo. Colorado U.S. …
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/12/21-federal-grant-to-pay-for-ptc-on-part-of-chief-route
For those who may have questions:
I believe Las Animas Jct is the actual location (about two miles east of Las Animas).
The remaining 17-18 miles between LA Jct and La Junta is already cover by BNSF PTC as this is on one of their significant routes - Denver to Amarillo.
La Junta to Lamy will have only Amtrak #3 and #4 and presumably may not require PTC. Lamy to Albuquerque is owned by the State of NM.
I have heard that BNSF has on occasion used Trinidad-La Junta as an alternate to the ex-C&S line to Pueblo.
The ability to connect in Trinidad from the C&S line to the BNSF line would be very difficult and time consuming with a substantial back up move; perhaps impossible without breaking up the train several times.