Daines grills Amtrak exec over restaffing offices

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., asked some point-blank questions in the Senate of an Amtrak executive Wednesday about planned changes to service on the Empire Builder that runs along Montana’s Hi-Line.

Amtrak announced that it would eliminate ticket agents at its stations in Havre, which has two agents, and Shelby, which has three agents, effective June 1.

“I’m concerned about the impacts this decision might have on Havre as well as Shelby,” Daines said in a recording of the session. “ … What specifically can Amtrak do to continue to meet the needs of rural Montanans in these communities, who...