Weather thwarts Empire Builder

Brutally low temperatures and winter storms across huge swaths of Amtrak’s Empire Builder route between Chicago and Seattle prompted a week of sporadic service and canceled trains.

With air temperatures as cold as 33 below in Havre on Thursday and wind chills of up to minus 52 through stretches of North Dakota, problems erupted with both rail equipment and the tracks themselves, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said Friday morning.

Amtrak did not run westbound trains from Chicago on Monday or Tuesday. The train ran on Wednesday, then was suspended from going any farther west than Minneapolis on Thursday. There was no service Friday or today, Magliari said.

On the eastbound route, Amtrak has been using motor coaches at various intervals. Passengers were bused from Seattle to Whitefish on Monday and Tuesday. On Thursday, the train started in Seattle and went as far as Spokane, where passengers were bused to Whitefish. There was no service beyond Whitefish Thursday through today.

Magliari said Amtrak officials consulted with BNSF Railway Co. in making the cancellations.

Even though the National Weather Service forecasts warmer weather along much of the Empire Builder route in the coming days, Magliari said he couldn’t predict what will happen. 

“We’re taking it one day at a time,” he said.

He encouraged travelers with questions to call 1-800-USA-RAIL.