Although the initial proposal is for an Amtrak route serving the southern portion of Montana, they want it to extend East to Chicago and "eventually" west to Portland. Full story
Could this be evidence that the political winds are changing?
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
Sojourner, there may be hope for Yellowstone yet. Just hurry up and get the new superliners ordered.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Mr. Toy - would that service be on the former North Coast Hiawatha (NP) route (the one which is currently being discussed in another thread, which includes part of the Montana Rail Link trackage)? -- the article does not specify which route for sure......
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
Billings-Spokane would have to be the former NCH/NP route. There are no other east-west routes left. To Chicago would likely be via fromer NCH/NP via Bismark/Fargo.
Former Burlington through Wyoming and Nebraska is highly unlikely, but that could get Sojourner pretty close to Mt. Rushmore.
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
boy this would be great news if the amtrak was back in southern MT. Being from Livingston I have had to go out of my way to take train trips over the years. usually i take the train to whitefish or spokane and catch a bus from there to Livingston.
the old North Coast Hiawatha went via butte. the new line would go through Helena, I guess, because thats where Montana Rail Link currently runs their trains.
I was on the last Amtrak train headed east out of Livingston in 79. Can barely remember it (pretty young at the time).
Our Governor is definitely a can-do governor. I am very impressed with his enthusiasm and trying to do new things. No wonder he has about a 70 percent approval rating and gets speaking engagements across the country.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
This is great news! Too bad about it being a "long term" plan, though. I wanna get to Yellowstone pretty soon. But maybe I can use it for a return trip. And Mt Rushmore too.
MJ, I am a fan of your governor too. I don't think too much of most politicians, but from the time I first saw your governor on C-SPAN, I was impressed. I have followed him a little ever since and continue to find him refreshingly effective. I think if more politicians were like him, this country would be in a lot better shape.
Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :
This topic is a 'hot' discussion on the TRAINS forum. Early info indicates substantial cost to upgrade for passenger service and necessary involvement by State of North Dakota. It looks like this may be several (many?) years away if it happens.
Posted by CG96 (Member # 1408) on :
Much though I like this, I wonder what conditon the track is on the MRL. Amtrak refuses to operate on track less than Class 3. I also think it would be a smart idea for this to function as a second frequency of service between ND and Chicago. It would have to operate every day, both directions. Between Spokane and Portland/Seattle it could replicate what the EB already provides, just at a different time of day.
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
quote:Originally posted by CG96: Amtrak refuses to operate on track less than Class 3.
Maybe now, but not always. When the Kentucky Cardinal operated Indianapolis to Louisville that was on Class 2 track, and bone jarring at 30 mph.
There is a lot of short lengths of Class 2, and possibly even Class 1 in urban areas where speeds are slow.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
The Amateur Iconoclast steps forward to pour cold water all over this:
WHITHER THE FUNDING???
John G Kneiling, PE, thank you, wherever you are.
Posted by BonePanzer (Member # 4798) on :
Is this a new LD route they are proposing or an extension of the Empire Builder?
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Well, I can see Sojourner really wants to get to Yellowstone. So how about this pipe dream.
The CB&Q, now BNSF, used to run a train from Denver to Billings, MT. complete with dineer and sleeper. It would seem to me that route would be better than trying to connect back into the EB route somewhere in North Dakota. From Billings you connect into the Montana route being discussed by the state to Bozeman, Helens, and Billings and then on to Spokane.
You add a whole new market with Denver now being able to get the the Northwest again and all the gas and coal activity in western Wyoming not to mention Teton and Yellowstone NP. Also serves the fast growing cities of Boulder and Ft. Collins on the front range, as well as Cheyenne. Could be the start of the Front Range Flyer that would continue on to Colorado Springs, Trinidad, then SWC route to Albuqueque (courtesy of Govenor Richardson) and tie in with his plans to run to El Paso.
As for Yellowstone, the CB&Q had connecting bus service from Deaver, WY to Cody which they considered the entrance to Yellowstone (although still 100 miles or so.)
We can get Mr. Norman's help on the funding, and tell the BNSF to build some more sidetracks for their nonstop coal trains from the Powder River basin. Well, at least the track is already in good shape.
On second thought maybe we should just ante up a few dollars and ride the Grande Luxe National Park train to Yellowstone.
Posted by delvyrails (Member # 4205) on :
The news report said nothing about the route which the train would take east of Montana.
Have to observe that there are two candidates: the former Amtrak BNSF route through Fargo and Bismarck, which is closely paralleled by an Interstate (with through bus service?) and is burdened with heavy coal traffic; and the shorter BNSF route which seems to have only U.S. 12, no through buses, and is BNSF's intermodal route. The latter route also has a political advantage: it would put South Dakota on the Amtrak route map.
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
Great idea, Mr. Palmland. We could also have a connecting bus to Rapid City and Mt. Rushmore and open up a whole new world of tourist travel.
This is the first I have heard that Mr. Norman is helping out with the funding, though. Maybe he could help me with the remainder of my mortgage, also.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Mr Norman has yet to hook up with an XP series box to broadband. The last time I checked, he was dialing up to 98.
You think he's going to let go of a penny unless it will turn a profit for him?
You do not know Mr Norman very well at all.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
quote:Originally posted by PullmanCo: Mr Norman has yet to hook up with an XP series box to broadband. The last time I checked, he was dialing up to 98.
You think he's going to let go of a penny unless it will turn a profit for him?
You do not know Mr Norman very well at all.
In case there was any doubt, my tongue was firmly in my cheek.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
And now for the reality check. Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
Re: Reality Check: Typical, "We want it but we want to have it without paying for it."