|
A RFP for an Excursion Train For Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, Colorado
the Roaring Fork & Rio Grande
The Opportunity
Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, Colorado offer an ideal location and unique opportunity to establish the Roaring Fork & Rio Grande (RF&RG) railroad: a permanent Tourist Attraction providing sightseeing and dinner excursions between stations in these communities.
A Request for a Proposal is being sought from experienced tourist excursion train operators to create and operate the RF&RG.
An opportunity exists for a multi-seasonal or year around operation. Anticipating a startup yearly rider ship of 100,000 excursion passengers is possible. This is only 5% of the 2 million yearly Glenwood Springs visitors.
The communities of Glenwood Springs and Carbondale will benefit greatly from this opportunity and will welcome your proposal. Rails and Trails (R&T), a group of interested citizens from the Roaring Fork Valley, offer the RFP.
The Railroad
The RF&RG will draw on the rich rail history of the valley. At one time seven railroads operated in the Roaring Fork valley, which extends from Glenwood Springs to Aspen. The Denver & Rio Grande and Colorado Midland railroads formed the backbone for rail transportation in the valley.
The lower (northern) 12.6 miles of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale remains operational. The RF&RG will operation on this section.
The railroad starts at the 'wye' joining it with the Union Pacific rails in the historical district of downtown Glenwood Springs. It extends south through much open country and along the Roaring Fork River. Near Carbondale it crosses the scenic 50-foot Carbondale High Bridge and then continues to quaint historic downtown Carbondale.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ What is required from the Operator?
A train station and infrastructure is required in Glenwood Springs. Some buildings are available. An ideal location is in the Glenwood wye, two blocks from the historic downtown district and parking. A train platform is required in Carbondale. A location with parking is available one block from downtown. Engines and cars must be provided. Historic is better. A 45-ton diesel engine is available. The equipment must be lightweight to operate on the rails. The railroad are in good shape, but some ties need to be replaced and crossings upgraded to bring it to FRA class 1 operation level. This will be the operator's responsibility. This has been estimated to cost $550,000. A lease must be obtained from the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority for use of the railroad. RFTA expects the lease fees to help defray costs in building a parallel pedestrian/bicycle trail, which could otherwise be built on the rail bed.
R&T is researching availability of rental, sale, and parking properties in the area of the wye and downtown Carbondale for station locations.
The proposal must summarize operator's experience and success, the vision for the RF&RG, operating schedule, passenger projections, capital investments, railroad improvements and lease. It should include a multi year business plan. This proposal is to be based on experience gained thru operating an excursion train. Anticipated community benefits should be addressed in the proposal. Please state your confidentiality requirements.
Interested operators should submit a proposal to: Rails and Trails Glenwood Railroad Museum 413 7th Street Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Time is of an essence in responding. RFTA is open to lease proposals for the railroad from legitimate service operators. But is must decide in the immediate future, how a trail is to be routed within the right of way; i.e. on or parallel to the roadbed.
Submissions will be reviewed by R&T. Submitters will be contacted for clarification and additions as needed. R&T will then present the submissions to Glenwood Springs' and Carbondale's chambers of commerce, city councils and RFTA for review. Submitters with proposals of merit will be invited to meet with the chambers, councils, and RFTA for discussions.
Contacts: Kip Wheeler 970 544-1971 or Jan Girardot 970 928-8721 For updates, pictures and email visit our website at: kipwh.com/train __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Anticipated Community Benefits
The RF&RG will bring vitality to the area surrounding its stations and railroad. It will generate significant revenues as a business It will generate taxable tourist revenues It will generate jobs It will require local business services for support. It will complements existing attractions giving visitors more to experience. It's marketing will provide increased exposure for the area. It will quickly create it's own tourist draw increasing tourism. It will draw on and promote the rich rail history of the valley.
Carbondale and Glenwood Springs
Carbondale, established in 1887, is a quaint town perfect for an enjoyable day visit with shopping, restaurants and historic buildings.
Glenwood Springs, established in 1883, has been a popular vacation destination for over 100 years known for its many recreational activities and hot springs.
Glenwood Springs is located on Interstate 70, a major east/west corridor. Denver (east 160 miles) Aspen (south 40 miles) Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon (east < 60 miles) Grand Junction (west 90 miles) Amtrak’s California Zephyr stops daily at the Glenwood Railroad Station (2 block to wye) Eagle Airport with commercial service (30 miles) Aspen Airport with commercial service (40 miles) Grand Junction Airport with commercial service (90 miles)
Principal Business Tourism Tourism revenues $120 million/year not including daytime visitors Overnight visitors/year: 1,200,000 Average spent/day $100 Daytime visitors/year 750,000 Average spent/day being researched
For more information contact the Glenwood Spring Chamber Resort Association at: 970-945-6589, www.glenwoodchamber.com.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Area Offerings
Attractions:
Yampah Spa Vapor Caves Historic Hot Springs Lodge and Pool with the world' largest hot springs pool Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park with tramway, mountain top restaurant, caves, rides Six golf courses Trout fishing in gold medal streams Sunlight Ski Area Glenwood Canyon; 20 miles of scenic canyons along I-70 and Colorado River Explore historic downtowns: lots of shopping and Artisan shops Music festivals and concerts Seven Colorado excursion trains operate within a 200-mile radius
Accommodations and services
Hotel Colorado: President Teddy Roosevelt and Doc Holliday stayed here Hotel Denver and the Glenwood Canyon Brewpub 50 restaurants and eating establishments 40 Motels, Inns and Bed and Breakfasts Two shopping malls with major outlets Two public transportation services Taxi, Shuttle and Limo services available
Recreation
Surrounded by White River National Forest with camping and trails Numerous pedestrian/bicycle trails including Colorado river trail; 20 miles through Glenwood canyon Glenwood Springs to Aspen trail; complete in 2010 Mountain hiking and biking Rafting/Kayaking Snowmobiling and motocross 15 downtown parks 5 Camping & RV facilities
Rails and Trails
For updates, pictures and email visit our website at: kipwh.com |
|
RFP |
|
North to Glenwood |
|
This file can be viewed, printed and saved. |
|
Rails and Trails Glenwood Railroad Museum 413 7th Street Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
May 27, 2005
Dear Sir or Madam:
A Request for a Proposal is being sought from an experienced tourist excursion train operator to create and operate a Roaring Fork & Rio Grande excursion/dinner train tourist attraction between Glenwood Springs, Colorado and Carbondale, Colorado.
I would appreciate it if you would review or pass along the attached Request for Proposal (RFP). Rails and Trails (R&T), a group of interested citizens from the Roaring Fork Valley, offer the RFP.
The Denver and Rio Grande railroad from Glenwood Springs to Carbondale operated into the early 1990's and is still operational for lightweight trains. This railroad is under threat of being converted into a trail. Rails and Trails' goal is to create an operating excursion railroad preserving the rails and benefiting the communities of Glenwood Springs and Carbondale.
This RFP with the latest updates are posted on the website kipwh.com/train.
I appreciate your attention and look forward to hearing from you,
Kippert R. Wheeler 970-544-1971 railsandtrails@ispwest.com |