Amtrak's Empire Builder down to five days a week

Amtrak’s Empire Builder, along with other routes, is back to a short schedule due to COVID-19.

After long-distance routes were cut early in the pandemic as the national passenger rail service cited declining passenger numbers due to COVID-19, seven-day-a-week service resumed in May after Congress appropriated funds specifically to restore service and directed Amtrak to return furloughed workers to their jobs.

That ended on the Empire Builder again this weekend, with trains not departing Chicago, Seattle and Portland Thursdays and Fridays, which means no service in Montana Friday and Sat...