‘I’he Interstate Commerce Commission is exgected to rule next week on t e Rio Grande Railroad’s request to discontinue the Salt Lake-to-Grand Junction leg of its Zephtyr passenger train. And if the I C goes a ong with the company’s request, the last run over the link which traverses Utah County, could come as early as May 31. In anticipation of this possibility, many families are making reservations to ride the Zephyr prior to that date as sort of a “sentimental joumey” to show the kids what it’s like to ride a train. This is the support Rio Grande has needed on a steady basis through the years, but which has been acking as travelers preferred to drive their cars or patronize air service. Ric Grande filed its application to close the Salt Lake-to-Grand Junction stretch after losing in excess of $2 million on the passenger operations last year. The railroad asked permission to close the link as of Jan. 31, 1979. But the ICC stalled the request and ordered that the Zephyr continue ezgerations through May 31 while e board studied the situation. Latest word is that ICC is expected to hand down a ruling about May 22. If the Rio Grande request is granted, only 10 days would be required to close out the Salt Lake-Grand Junction leg. A UPI dispatch last Friday said gasoline-starved Americans are jamming Amtrak’s reservations centers with calls and train travel has reached such an “incredible” level in California that Amtrak is rushing- more passenger cars west.” Asked if Ric Grande would reconsider its request to close the Utah segment of the Zephyr line in view of this upsurge in the passenger count, a company spokesman said this wou d be highly unlikely. “We anticipate that as soon as the gasoline shortage is straightened out and the current strike against United Air Lines is finished, the passenger level will drop back to normal and we would again find it impossible to compete against subsidized systems of travel.” I-le said that traditionally, passenger Batronage has been light on the tah si e; whereas from Grand Junction to Denver business continues consistently good. Shoppers going from Grand Junction and other points to Denver and traffig to the various Colorado ski resorts are significant factors in this situation, the spokesman said. When the crack new Rio Grande passenger train (then the California Zephyr) came on the line about 1951 it was considered in a class by itself. Even as late as 1977 the Zephyr was rated at the top of the list of passenger trains in this country. Today it is the last privatelyoperated and owned passenger service, never having been afflllated with Amtrak. Originally, through use of rails of other companies both east and west, the Zephyr provided fast passenger service all the way rom Oakland to Chicago. But service has been cut back from both ends until the Salt Lake-Denver sfgment remains the last of the ne. Should the ICC deny the Rio Grande request in its upcoming ruling, the company would be compelled to continue the service. But if the request is granted, then only the Grand Junction-toDenver leg will remain. This would mark the close of another chapter in the saga of the railroad in the West – a sad ending for Utahns to be sure, but one which faces up to economic realities vital in any business enterprise. So They Soy “I-Ie should feel at home – it’s Republican territory.” – Mayor Ed Koch of New York, commenting on the clty’s lnconcluslve search for an elephant apparently being kept as an illegal pet in Brooklyn. The hunt was touched off by phone calls to the Health Department from citizens. “Sometimes I don’t know whether it is harder for a president to establish ace in the Middle East or Midrll: West.” – President Jimmy Carter, citing friction between farmers and city dwellers in the Middle West states. Rising food prices put city dwellers at a disadvantage.