In western Canada the Great Canadian Railtour Company operates profitable long-distance passenger trains. Trains run from Vancouver to Kamloops (260 miles) on one day and then travel to Jasper (270 miles) or Calgary and Banff (390 miles). Passengers stay in hotels overnight in Kamloops so the trains can be coach only. The Vancouver to Jasper route also hosts VIA’s Canadian.The main selling point is scenery.
www.rockymountaineer.com
Could a service like this work on the former Denver and Rio Grande Western ? Denver and Salt Lake City have good airports and are 275 miles and 296 miles from Grand Junction. If the Tennessee Pass line were to reopen, it is 331 miles from Grand Junction to Pueblo. The scenery is good enough, but is there enough track capacity ?
Transcisco Tours tried a San Jose to Reno train in 1990-1991. It lost money for several reasons (low snowpack, Gulf War) and their three ex BN F45s went to WSOR and then to Montana Rail Link.
American Orient Express already does that.