Commission Renews Contract with RGRPC *LINK*

Commission Renews Contract with RGRPC
Posted By: Brian Shoup
Date: Dec 6, 2003
In a meeting today at the Chama (NM) village hall, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission voted unanimously to approve renewing the management agreement with the Rio Grande Preservation Corporation (RGRPC), a nonprofit affiliate of the Friends. Under the terms of the 2004 agreement, the RGRPC will receive a 5% management fee (down from 9% in 2003) in addition to reimbursements for its expenses.
The Commission also approved the RGRPC board’s recommendation that the 2004 train schedule be doubled from that of this past season based on the expected availability of three operational locomotives next spring. The railroad will operate eight trains weekly, 6 days a week, with Fridays being the “down” day. Saturday and Sunday will see trains departing from Antonito and Chama to Osier and return. Monday and Wednesday will have a train running from Antonito to Chama. Tuesday and Thursday, the train will run from Chama to Antonito. RGRPC officials told the Commission that this schedule could potentially be augmented depending on volumes and conditions. Charter trains are anticipated as well.
Regular adult fares will be held to $60 for trains out of Chama. In a move intended to boost ridership on trains departing Antonito, the regular adult fares will be priced at $55. The Commission again approved a $2 fire mitigation surcharge to all fares.
In news regarding the master plan, Chairman Steve Malnar announced that Commission has rescinded its intention to contract with the Unit Design Studio team, citing that costs exceeded the monies available. Instead, it will be assuming the role of contractor with subcontracts with the Friends of the C&TS, Centennial Engineering, Starfire Engineering, and possibly others.