Empire Builder back to seven days a week

After seven months of running only three days a week, the Hi-Line is again seeing the Empire Builder run twice a day across the railroad tracks.

Amtrak — which had its 50th anniversary this month — had cut long-distance service last summer, including the Empire Builder that crosses the Hi-Line as it runs from Chicago to Seattle and Portland, citing reduced numbers of passengers due to the pandemic.

The members of Montana’s congressional delegation had been working to restore the service almost as soon as it was announced.

The American Recovery Plan Act passed in March and signed into law by Pr...