streamlined passenger train operated amtrak chicago illinois seattle washington united_states operated train successor route chicago milwaukee milwaukee road east minneapolis saint paul train combined milwaukee road famed created behest united_states congress enjoyed uncertain existence discontinued attempts restore service success history background flagship train main line begun running running mate operated slower schedule fewer amenities main line mirrored great rival great northern railway running southern montana merger chicago service continued northern pacific great northern amtrak chose chicago pacific northwest route amtrak based decision factors including overall higher speed great northern route better availability alternative transportation options northern pacific operation amtrak decision trains caused montana senate majority leader pointed bypassed montana major population centers difficulty making displeasure felt new company reacted pressure announced resumption service northern pacific begin june service took form unnamed section empire builder running separately minneapolis washington intervention earned train nickname mike limited route included praised scenery amtrak considered route company beautiful train provided convenient connection montana november amtrak formally named service tri weekly schedule chicago independent combined trip seattle days week train terminated minneapolis amtrak initially named minneapolis train adopted twin cities january amtrak reverted october remained went daily time joint operation ended june amtrak extended seattle great northern route included new routing served northern washington communities previously service train remained tri weekly schedule west minneapolis summer amtrak added second train expo named expo held segment schedule fluctuated years train operating daily chicago seattle summers tri weekly west minneapolis rest year amtrak run daily service holiday season train operated daily december january train operated daily schedule calendar year early threatened daily portland oregon seattle trains proposed budget cuts members congress protested proposed cuts including representative montana senators washington oregon end congress approved budget amtrak million administration request saving services amtrak announced october second train receive new level coaches order end train cancelled entered long distance service spring amtrak added seven hours schedule increasing hours minutes change prompted new speed restrictions amtrak trains involving new diesel locomotives september amtrak eliminated day chicago paul service leaving trips week amtrak reduced empire builder weekly service returned daytime service chicago minneapolis november amtrak reduced running time hours minutes replacement permitted speed restrictions improved service began train threatened cancellation facing budget deficit million amtrak identified half dozen routes considered financially troubled amtrak proposed merging decision taken trains continued provide daily service chicago seattle january secretary announced plans cut miles amtrak network routes scheduled elimination train faced cancellation years federal subsidies members congress favored vocal supporters senator expressed regret public commitment adams noted service recovered million expenses million passenger cost july attempt representative future vice president impose year proposed system wide cuts failed end senate approved smaller citing spike amtrak oil shock summer remained block late september senator montana representative montana sued prevent service scheduled october federal judge temporarily restrained amtrak ending service ran october arriving chicago 7th seattle 8th proposed return years periodic attempts restore service southern montana proposed plan involved montana paying costs year new section empire builder operating tri weekly proposal went state voted funds proposal required additional yearly federal appropriation million plus new equipment scenario portland section operate old route came congress directed amtrak study resumption service hope restoration amtrak published feasibility study october proposed restoring route possible daily schedule amtrak projected yearly drawn amtrak estimated billion funds necessary service including million new locomotives rolling stock corporation estimated years service decision forward equipment saw variety motive power rolling stock years amtrak disposed inherited equipment best gradually replaced older equipment stock early 1970s typical train feature dome cars pulled milwaukee road summer train cars including dome coaches california dome lounge dome sleeper lounge merger notwithstanding cars carried big sky blue characteristic late passenger trains cascade green train routes receive new worked route older continued series involving prompted replacement late amtrak introduced ran unit
North Coast Hiawatha