Amtrak is not proposing to add Trinidad, Colorado, to the Southwest Chief route: the train already stops there. The proposal is for a new station hall on Commercial Avenue that would serve the existing Southwest Chief and potentially a future Colorado Connector service. The facility has no confirmed opening date.
What is Amtrak proposing in Trinidad?
The Front Range Passenger Rail District’s 2026 approved delivery plan proposes a station hall on Commercial Avenue in Trinidad. It is intended to serve Southwest Chief passengers and a future Colorado Connector (CoCo) station. The plan proposes $41.25 million over 25 years for Trinidad local connectivity, station improvements and operations associated with the hall, according to the district’s announcement.
That is a proposed investment in a station facility and related services—not evidence that construction is underway or that all funding and approvals are secured. The reviewed announcement does not establish a final design or construction start.
Does the Southwest Chief already stop in Trinidad?
Yes. Amtrak’s timetable dated October 7, 2026, lists Trinidad as a current Southwest Chief station. The train runs daily between Chicago and Los Angeles; the timetable shows a journey of about 44 hours, with duration varying by direction. CDOT also lists Trinidad among the route’s Colorado stops, alongside Lamar and La Junta. See Amtrak’s timetable and CDOT’s Southwest Chief information.
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How would Measure 7A fund the plan?
Colorado Public Radio and KRCC’s September 25, 2026 voter guide describes Measure 7A as a proposed 0.333% sales and use tax within the Front Range Passenger Rail District—one-third of a cent per dollar, with exemptions for specified categories. The guide says the measure would fund the southern portion of CoCo, increased train frequency, station upgrades, local improvements and the Trinidad station. Details are in the 2026 voter guide.
The $41.25 million figure is the district’s proposed 25-year investment for Trinidad-related connectivity, station improvements and operations; it should not be read as a confirmed construction budget or as proof that Measure 7A passed. The voter guide was published before the election, so its description is of a proposal, not an election result.
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When could the new station open?
No firm opening date for the Trinidad hall is established in the reviewed sources. The voter guide gives 2029 as the expected start for the northern Denver–Fort Collins service and 2032 as the proposed start for the southern Denver–Pueblo segment. Those are CoCo service milestones, contingent on funding and delivery; they are not confirmed dates for construction or opening of the Trinidad facility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is this the same as CDOT’s Southwest Chief thru-car study?
No. The station hall is part of the Front Range Passenger Rail District’s CoCo delivery plan. CDOT’s separate Southwest Chief Thru-Car study considered passenger connections among La Junta, Pueblo and Colorado Springs. CDOT says the Colorado Springs–Pueblo analysis paused in August 2023 to coordinate with Front Range Passenger Rail planning, while Pueblo–La Junta remained the near-term study focus. A possible thru-car connection to the Southwest Chief is a separate concept, not the Trinidad station project. CDOT describes that effort on its Southwest Chief page.
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