Topeka ? Kansas is seeking about $17 million in federal stimulus funds to help upgrade passenger rail service.

The Department of Transportation says it filed applications for three grants last week.

The largest potential grant is $10 million. It would allow the state to upgrade signals and crossings on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway tracks from Newton to the Oklahoma line.

Only freight trains run on the tracks now. The upgrades would allow faster-moving Amtrak service.

The state is also seeking nearly $7 million to improve 19 miles of BNSF track from Emporia into Osage County, also to permit faster Amtrak trains.

The third grant of $500,000 would study what upgrades are needed for passenger rail service between Kansas City and Oklahoma City.