GOLDEN ~ Golden, Colorado - Governor Jared Polis took a tour of the Colorado Railroad Museum today, where he proclaimed the week of June 21, 2026 as Colorado Railroad Heritage Week. The museum, which first opened its doors in Golden in 1959, has a rich history dating back to 1948 when it was located in Alamosa as a private collection before relocating to its current 15-acre location.

During his visit, Governor Polis expressed his enthusiasm for expanding passenger rail in Colorado. He stated that railroads have played a significant role in the state's history, from powering the gold rush to facilitating commerce across the Rocky Mountains. He believes that passenger rail will continue to play an essential role in Colorado's future by providing more transportation options and increasing efficiency.

The governor has been a strong advocate for expanding passenger rail in Colorado and has made significant strides towards this goal. In recent years, he has worked towards agreements to expand mountain rail with the Winter Park Express and make Front Range Passenger Rail a reality. He also forged a historic partnership with Union Pacific to lease the Moffat Tunnel, setting the stage for future mountain rail development.

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In addition to these efforts, Governor Polis announced the Freight Rail Tax Credit in 2025. This initiative aims to diversify business use of freight rail lines affected by coal plant closures and incentivize the use of Union Pacific's Craig Branch Line. The goal is to support local economies that have traditionally relied on the coal industry and pave the way for future passenger rail development.

Governor Polis expressed his excitement at being able to see so much rail history in one place and explore the impressive exhibits at the Colorado Railroad Museum. With his continued efforts and support for expanding passenger rail, it is clear that Colorado is not running out of steam but is instead moving full steam ahead towards a more connected and efficient transportation system.

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