Randy Hall, Mayor

480 East Avenue North

P.O. Box 2315, Ketchum, Idaho 83340

Telephone: (208) 726-3841 Fax: (208) 726-8234

February 11, 2008

Representative Mike Simpson

U.S. House of Representatives

1339 Longworth Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

RE: Restoring Amtrak Service to Idaho

Dear Representative Simpson:

I am writing this letter to express my support of your efforts to restore Amtrak service (Pioneer Route) to Idaho.

Train service to the Sun Valley Resort and the town of Ketchum is a significant part of our cultural heritage, beginning with the development of the resort by Averill Harriman on behalf of the Union Pacific Railroad in the late 1930’s. In the early days, most visitors to the Sun Valley Ski Resort took the train all the way up to Sun Valley via a spur line. We lost this direct rail service in 1964. However, the Pioneer rail line to Shoshone continued to run until 1997. This was a great loss to our area, as the rail service created another travel option for our relatively remote area.

Traveling by rail builds on our heritage, creates a unique way to get to Ketchum and Sun Valley, and provides another option in an era of rising gasoline prices, and unreliable air service. We support all of your efforts to re-instate the Pioneer Rail Line. If conversations continue, we would like to give more specific feedback as to the hours of service that would be most beneficial for those coming to Ketchum/Sun Valley to ski or recreate. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any help in your efforts.

Sincerely,

Mayor Randy Hall

PIONEER MEDIA ARTICLES