Amtrak unveiled on July 23 a plan for a system that would provide three train trips a day between Phoenix and Tucson, at an estimated capital cost of $925 million. The route would include seven new stations and tie into the existing Amtrak Sunset Limited east-west route with an existing station in Tucson.
Bill Flynn, Amtrak CEO, said in a Zoom media roundtable that the railroad has spent several years developing the vision, in consultation with Arizona leaders. Stephen Gardner, Amtrak president, noted that 11 Arizona mayors sent a bipartisan letter to Congress this month in support of the plan.