(The following appeared on The Dickinson Press website on February 11, 2011. Brother Ron K. Huff is Legislative Representative of BLET Division 746 in Mandan, N.D.)
BISMARCK, N.D. — A Jamestown lawmaker wants passenger rail service to serve North Dakota cities along Interstate 94.
Rep. Joe Kroeber, D-Jamestown, is sponsoring a resolution asking the Legislature to study passenger rail service in the state, including options to implement a route in the southern part of the state.
The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 required Amtrak to study expanded service, including the North Coast Hiawatha Line, he said.
Ron Huff of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen testified that the study should go forward. It would “put to rest one way or another” the feasibility of bringing back the service, he said.
A few legislators wondered if upgrades would be needed to the rail track if passenger service returns. Huff said that may depend on what speed Amtrak would run the train.
The full story appears on the Dickinson Press website.