From The New West Blog

Amtrak to Consider Restoring Western Routes

By Matthew Frank, 10-03-08

With Wednesday’s passage of a veto-proof $13 billion Amtrak funding bill, Amtrak will consider restoring two bygone Western routes, the Pioneer and North Coast Hiawatha.

The Pioneer, from 1977 to 1997, connected Seattle and Chicago via Oregon, Southern Idaho, Utah and Colorado. The North Coast Hiawatha, from 1971 to 1979, diverged from the Empire Builder and ran through southern Montana and North Dakota.

Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and Montana Sen. Jon Tester introduced the amendments.

Crapo said:

“When President Bush signs the legislation, the next step will be to arrange Amtrak meetings here in Idaho and prepare for the visit that Amtrak CEO Alex Kummant has agreed to related to the passage of this legislation.”

From Tester’s press release:

“A record number of folks are riding Amtrak,” Tester said. “And with out-of-control gas prices, we need to make sure every option is available to folks who need to travel across Montana. Amtrak is already an important part of the Hi-Line. It’s time to see if it makes sense to bring more Amtrak service to the Big Sky State.”

Shortly after Amtrak ended its North Coast Hiawatha service, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle noted that Amtrak discontinued the route because it didn’t serve an average of 150 passengers per mile. At the time the North Coast Hiawatha averaged 149 passengers per mile.

“The money the Hiawatha lost will go into the fuel tanks and the pockets of Arab countries,” a Chronicle editorial warned on October 7, 1979. “Now that makes sense, if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

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