Amtrak's Southwest Chief may seem like just another passenger train to the average citizen, but to many who live in the communities it serves--all along the historical and scenic route between Chicago and Los Angeles--it's not just a sensible method of transportation for them; it's a crucial lifeline. Like most of Amtrak's long-distance trains, the Chief traverses some very lonely territory, and for many people living in such areas, the train is their only connection to the outside world. Unfortunately, a large portion of the route through parts of Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico is facing the threat of abandonment, with Amtrak proposing to reroute the train through more populous territory that already boasts many other connections to the outside world. That's because BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) Railway, who owns the tracks, has stopped running freight trains over much of this portion for some time now, only keeping it open as an emergency detour in case their primary route between the midwest and southwest is somehow obstructed. As a result, while some parts of the threatened portion are in perfectly fine condition, much of the route is run down and in need of repair. Since the line currently makes no profit, BNSF will not make the necessary repairs to the tracks for the Chief to continue using them unless the states of Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico along with Amtrak and others in the federal government provide the proper funding. It is up to President Obama, Amtrak President Boardman, and Governors Brownback, Hickenlooper and Martinez to take the necessary steps to keep the Southwest Chief on its current route.