Empire Builder ridership down

The Montana Department of Transportation reported this week that ridership on Amtrak's Empire Builder passenger train that runs along the Hi-Line took a significant hit in 2009. MDT reports that passengers getting on or off the Empire Builder last year dropped more than 6,000 in the state, from 164,551 in 2008 to 148,019 in 2009. That is the first drop in the five years covered in MDT's report. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said the recession led to loss of travelers nationwide. "It was certainly the economy in '09," Magliari said. "It affected all travel companies including us." Paul Tuss...