Amtrak's Empire Builder back on schedule

WHITEFISH (AP) — Nine months after Amtrak’s Empire Builder adjusted its schedule to deal with freight congestion, the passenger rail service has returned the train to its original timetable.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari was in Whitefish Tuesday morning when the eastbound Empire Builder rolled in to the station shortly after 7 a.m. — and 23 minutes early.

Now, Amtrak is working to win back passengers who sought other means of transportation because the trains faced delays caused by freight congestion and track work.

Magliari said he hopes the lengthy delays of 11 or 12 hours are a thing of the past.

Amtrak said in a press release last month that part of the schedule change was to allow for work BNSF Railway was implementing to upgrade its track, reduce congestion and improve service.

BNSF has more upgrades planned for this year, including along Montana's Hi-Line, to further increase capacity.

The Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle and Portland, Oregon, passing along the Hi-Line with one of its stops in Havre.