Business and Organization Partnership Program

Major Gifts and Annual Business Association Partnerships

We are seeking philanthropic investment to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to resume daily passenger rail service of the North Coast Limited/Hiawatha from Chicago to Seattle. With your investment, we can return daily passenger rail to Southern Montana.

Traveling through seven states, Amtrak’s North Coast Limited/Hiawatha connected Chicago, Illinois to Seattle, Washington. Operating for more than 80 years, the discontinuation of this line in 1979 severed access to passenger rail to the largest cities in Montana and North Dakota and small towns in between. As a result, a vast expanse of the Greater Northwest Region lacks passenger rail service. The benefits of restored service are many. Operating for more than 80 years, the discontinuation of this line in 1979 severed access to passenger rail to the largest cities in Montana and North Dakota and small towns in between.

As a result, a vast expanse of the Greater Northwest Region lacks passenger rail service. The benefits of restored service are many.

Today, more than 2,000 miles from the Great Lake to the Pacific and 800 miles from Great Falls to Denver no longer have access to passenger rail service. It’s time to provide passenger rail service to all of America.

Projected Impact:

  • More than $270M in economic benefit to the seven states served by the North Coast Limited/Hiawatha

  • More than $40M in fares and customer revenue to offset annual operating costs

  • More than 426,000 passengers aboard each year

  • Annual tax receipts from all sources expected to rise by $3.5 million

Your support is an investment in the following:

  • Administration – build our capacity to advance the critical work of this volunteer-led initiative.

  • Advocacy - Public outreach and research efforts into critical components of our economy - health care; education; tourism & outdoor recreation; environmental sustainability; and local economic development - that can articulate unique benefits of the expansion of the passenger rail system.

  • Alliances - Build and foster essential partnerships with tribal governments, host railroads, labor, and local development agencies to create practical pathways supporting the operation of the railways and ensure maximum benefits for society at large.

Contact Us

Please drop us a line if you’re looking for more information.