(The Associated Press circulated the following story on November 19.)
HELENA, Mont. — It appears Amtrak passenger service across Montana’s Hi-Line will continue, Sen. Max Baucus announced Tuesday.
Baucus said Amtrak officials told him the Empire Builder route won?t be cut as long as funding levels for fiscal 2004 remain at $1.23 billion.
That’s the amount that lawmakers have tentatively set aside for the national rail passenger system, Baucus said.
The Empire Builder serves 12 communities across northern Montana.
Baucus said announcements by House and Senate members negotiating transportation funding have allayed fears of major cuts to Montana’s Amtrak service.
“It looks like we’ve helped save the Empire Builder for another year,” Baucus said.
The Empire Builder route, started in 1929, runs between Chicago and Seattle. Baucus said it pumps about $7.6 million into Montana’s economy annually.