So let’s say BNSF gets ten miles of third main track between Emporia and Newton and several new crossovers & interlockings along the entire distance KCY-Topeka-Newton-Wichita. Seems like it could be a reasonable (for government work!) $300m project. Add Wichita-OKC for say $100m, including stations, or a $2m/year Thruway for the moment. The demand is obvious from Kansas City to Wichita anyway.
So we're saying $400 million dollars is "okay" to start passenger service in some of the most sparsely populated parts of the country?
This is crazy. We're talking two states that do not have the population COMBINED of the Chicago metro area, spread over 152,000 square miles. For $400,000,000. In addition to $50,000,000 for the Chief's track upkeep this year. You're literally at half billion dollars for service in the state of Kansas. All 1x/day routes.
A Topeka extension of the Saint Louis trains might cost literally nothing given the existing track and equipment.
Also, Amtrak bought the entire Michigan route for $150m, lock stock and barrel, serving Detroit, Ann Arbor, South Bend, and Chicago. Population something like 10 million, 4x trains/day, might see 2 more if the LSL or Cap are ever rerouted.
My head is about to explode.