Colorado has finalized a 25-year lease agreement with Union Pacific for the Moffat Tunnel, replacing a 99-year lease that expired in December.
Under the deal, Union Pacific will support the state’s plan to launch passenger rail service from Denver to Granby by 2026, with potential future expansions to Steamboat Springs and Craig.
The agreement allows up to three daily round trips, or 506,000 train miles annually, for the new mountain rail line, which would complement efforts to reestablish north-south passenger service along the Front Range.
Officials say the agreement lays the foundation for the future of mountain travel while preserving critical freight access through the region.