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Amtrak halts Empire Builder service once again due to storms

Winter weather in Montana and mudslides in Washington has forced Amtrak to halt service on the Empire Builder for the second time this week.

By Tim Harlow

February 10, 2017 at 4:03PM

This Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 photo provided by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway shows a BNSF Railway train with a plow where it was clearing snow from the tracks after avalanche control efforts along the southern edge of Glacier National Park near Essex, Mont. Freight traffic has resumed through the Glacier National Park area after BNSF Railway completed avalanche mitigation work. Amtrak passenger trains will follow Thursday. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Winter weather in Montana and mudslides in Washington have forced Amtrak to halt service on the Empire Builder for the second time this week.

Thursday's westbound Amtrak from Chicago to the West Coast was held at Union Depot in St. Paul due to a track closure at Marias Pass, Montana. That's where avalanches forced the railroad to suspend service earlier this week.

Passengers traveling to destinations between the Twin Cities and Minot were put on buses. Those heading further west were offered a return trip to Chicago and a refund, said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.

Trains on both sides of the blockage were held at stations in Montana overnight. It is hoped the snow-covered tracks can be cleared by sometime Friday.

Empire Builder trains also are not running between Portland, Ore. and Everett, Wash. through Saturday due to mudslides, Amtrak said.

Trains between Chicago and St. Paul are running as scheduled.

Passengers can check on the status of their train by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL

about the writer

Tim Harlow

Reporter

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather.