Our promised June 8 RTD commuter rail excursion is rapidly approaching! Details are below. Please let us know if you’d like to attend this event by emailing us at conductor@nrhsintermountain.org.
THIS EVENT WILL SUBSTITUTE FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING AT MALONES.
Our plan is to ride 2 commuter rail lines in the morning, break for lunch at the Thirsty Lion restaurant at Union Station, and ride the other 2 lines in the afternoon. Chapter member and retired RTD General Manager of Capital Projects, Rick Clarke, will escort us and tell us a few facts about each line and answer questions. We should stay together as a group as much as possible. Rick was involved in bringing these lines to reality.
We have established a proposed schedule (below) but also understand things can go wrong with the best made plans. My cell number is: 303-514-1111 if you get stranded or separated from the group. We will meet at the end of Tracks 4 & 5 at Denver Union Station at 8:45 AM or earlier, if you choose. Perhaps we’ll see the departure of Amtrak’s California Zephyr at 8:46. We suggest riding public transit to Union Station to avoid traffic and parking hassles, though there are parking garages near the station.
If you’re familiar with public transit to reach DUS, great! Just leave yourself plenty of time since RTD sometimes has reliability issues. Maybe get some coffee or snack in the station and observe the train activity. You may also visit rtd-denver.com for information on bus, light rail, and commuter rail service to the station. Wherever you board RTD service, purchase an Airport Day Pass for $10, or a Senior Day Pass for $2.70 (which includes the Airport Fare Zone) if you are 65 or older. Bus drivers can sell them when you board the bus, otherwise use the easy ticket vending machines at the train boarding platforms.
Here is our proposed schedule:
B Line:
Lv. 9:09 AM DUS
Ar. 9:24 AM Westminster
Lv. 9:43 AM “
Ar. 9:49 AM 41st & Fox
G Line:
Lv. 10:05 AM 41st & Fox
Ar. 10:28 AM Ward Rd.
Lv. 10:51 AM “
Ar. 11:18 AM DUS
Lunch at Thirsty Lion. Menu at thirstyliongastropub.com Short walk from end of track.
N Line:
Lv. 1:26 PM DUS
Ar. 1:56 PM Eastlake
Lv. 2:13 PM “
Ar. 2:42 PM DUS
A Line:
Lv. 3:00 PM DUS
Ar. 3:37 PM DIA
Lv. Whenever you like. Our group tour concludes at DIA and trains depart every 15 minutes to DUS ( :12. :27, :42, :57 past the hour). There are restrooms at DIA and opportunities for snacks and beverages. Perhaps the balcony by the hotel will be available - great views of the train platform operations and the mountains, with beverage availability.
Your Day Passes are good thru the end of the service day so you may want to ride light rail or the buses along Colfax for entertainment value. There may be a chance for afternoon showers so you might want to be prepared for moisture.
The Intermountain Chapter expects that you will have a wonderful time riding actual trains rather than than just looking at slides and videos of them! Denver has an impressive rail network that many folks thought would never happen so let’s take a look at it. Also, keep in mind that all light rail trains will be operating into DUS due to track work on the downtown lines. Check the latest schedules at the RTD website and allow extra time just in case. There’s a short walk from the light rail platforms to the commuter rail tracks.
You may want to print the above schedule to bring with you, or keep it on your phone. You do have the option of joining us enroute at any location. PLEASE EMAIL conductor@nrhsintermountain.org TO CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE ON OUR TOUR ASAP - WE NEED TO GIVE THE THIRSTY LION A HEADCOUNT!
We do need an updated headcount for those who responded earlier.
conductor@nrhsintermountain.org.