Colorado Secures 25-Year BNSF Access Agreement for $330M Front Range Rail

Denver–Fort Collins rail service has moved a step closer. A term sheet backed by Colorado and BNSF Railway sets the basis for the proposed service. The agreement marks a step towards reintroducing intercity rail on the northern Front Range. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Access terms for Denver–Fort Collins rail service

The framework follows negotiations led by the Joint Service Executive Committee. It sets out the main commercial and operating terms for a 25-year access arrangement. Under that arrangement, passenger trains would run on infrastructure owned by BNSF. Also, the initial service pattern would include three daily round trips. Those trips would run between Denver and Fort Collins.

Meanwhile, BNSF would act as the host railroad under the proposal. It would coordinate passenger operations with freight services already using the corridor. The term sheet covers shared track use and scheduling priorities. It also covers infrastructure upgrades needed to handle additional passenger trains while preserving freight capacity.

Governor Polis said:
Today’s agreement is a big step towards delivering three daily round trips between Denver and Fort Collins, giving Coloradans transportation options to save us time and money, while reducing traffic and pollution. With no new taxes, and at nearly half the cost of previous studies, this agreement proves that through partnership and collaboration, passenger rail service across the Front Range is not a far-off dream, but a reality. I thank BNSF for their steadfast collaboration, and the Joint Service Executive Committee and Lisa Kaufmann, our lead negotiator, for putting in the hard work to deliver this long-overdue service for Coloradans.

Funding, upgrades and design work

The agreement also defines responsibilities for capital improvements estimated at about 330 million USD. The expected works include track upgrades to support higher speeds. In addition, they include additional passing sections to reduce conflicts between freight and passenger trains. Safety enhancements such as Positive Train Control are also expected.

Public sector partners have approved initial funding to move the project into design. They include the Colorado Transportation Investment Office and the Regional Transportation District. At that stage, infrastructure requirements will be refined. Also, operating plans and cost estimates will be refined. This will happen before a final access agreement is completed.

The term sheet uses a cooperative model involving BNSF and several public agencies. Under that model, resources and risks are shared between them. Separately, BNSF has indicated that the arrangement builds on its experience hosting passenger services. That experience extends across its network. State partners view the agreement as a way to deliver rail connectivity without new taxes.

BNSF Assistant Vice President of Passenger Operations Jim Tylick said:
BNSF is proud to take this important step with the state of Colorado, moving us closer to bringing new intercity passenger rail service to communities along the Front Range. As the nation’s largest host of passenger rail service, we’re committed to working together to deliver safe, reliable transportation that strengthens mobility and opportunity across the region.

January 2029 target for passenger operations

If the final agreement is completed on schedule, detailed design work is expected to proceed. It would continue through the late 2020s. Passenger operations are targeted to begin by January 2029, in line with state legislation.

The proposed service would connect several growing communities along the Front Range. It would offer an alternative to road travel on the congested Interstate 25 corridor. It would use existing rail infrastructure under a long-term access agreement with BNSF.

CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said:
Passenger rail service between Denver and Ft. Collins will offer another high-quality, convenient travel option along the northern Front Range. Giving people the freedom to choose the best way to make a trip makes travel safer and easier for everyone, and offering three daily round trips between some of Colorado’s largest communities and employment centers will quickly deliver benefits for our transportation system. I want to thank the CDOT team that has provided technical assistance throughout this effort and appreciate the strong show of support from the Transportation Commission and the CTIO and CTE boards of directors.

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