More routes, more frequent trains, better serving disadvantaged communities and improving connections with other transportation modes were some common priorities for long-distance rail across six geographic regions, according to a report the Federal Railroad Administration released Thursday.

“I felt like all the stakeholders represented were aligned in that the North Coast Hiawatha is a high priority route to restore,” Strohmaier said. “Also, from a regional perspective, the Pioneer route from either Denver or Salt Lake City up through Boise to Portland is also an important piece of regional passenger rail.”

From Railway Age:
The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority has submitted a proposal to the FRA for the restoration of Amtrak’s North Coast Hiawatha route, which would travel from Chicago to Seattle and has BNSF support. (BNSF Map)

The FRA is expected to announce this summer which projects will be selected.

Chairman Dave Strohmaier said reestablishing the North Coast Hiawatha Line would improve the economy for rural communities across several states, including Montana and North Dakota. The proposed route would travel from Chicago to Seattle, following interstates 90 and 94, and making stops in Dickinson, Bismarck, and Glendive.

Not only are many Montana counties supporting the effort, but transportation leaders in adjoining states have also been signing on to show support, turning what had been a Montana-based drive into a much larger initiative.

The North Coast Hiawatha route is already under analysis as part of the FRA’s Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study. The Corridor ID Program will work hand in glove with that study to complete a service development plan and preliminary engineering — precursors to resuming passenger rail service through southern Montana and beyond, the press release said.

Plans are moving forward for a proposal to bring back passenger rail service to southern Montana. The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority's proposal would restore the North Coast Hiawatha Corridor, which stretched from Chicago to Seattle and Portland until 1979. Organizers recently submitted the proposal to the Federal Railroad Administration.

After experiencing success from community events, the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is looking to host more events in communities throughout Montana this year with an emphasis on what they call “pint nights” at local breweries in those communities.

On the County Talk edition of KGVO’s Talk Back show on Wednesday, March 8th, Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier provided an update on the effort to return passenger rail service to Montana.

The North Coast Hiawatha route was discontinued in 1979. Governor Doug Burgum, R-ND, has expressed support for restoring the route, saying it would have significant economic impacts for state tourism. Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven have also been in favor of improving long-distance passenger rail across rural America.

For the first time in its young history, the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority now claims a contiguous block of participating counties stretching from the North Dakota border across the state to the western border with Idaho.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is continuing efforts to bring rail service to southern Montana and just reached another milestone by adding another county to the group. Commissioners in Treasure County unanimously voted to join the group as the 20th county.

2023 is a major year for this effort: the U.S. Department of Transportation is studying which inactive rail lines could be restored. The North Coast Hiawatha stretched from Chicago to Seattle and passed through Missoula County until 1979 when the line was discontinued. Listen to this episode to learn more about how tribal communities and private businesses are involved and what’s next for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.

“As many Montanans may know, this state was built on railways. Beginning in 1880 when the tracks first linked us to the rest of the nation, railroads played a key role in transporting livestock, grain, and passengers from the West Coast to the Atlantic. Although the second half of the 20th century into the beginning of the 21st has been a difficult time for passenger rail travel, I believe it is key to strengthening our state as we look to support a growing population.”

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is pushing to ensure the old North Coast Hiawatha is included in November when the Federal Railroad Administration submits its final Amtrak Daily Long Distance Service Study to Congress.

"The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority in Montana is resolutely moving forward with an ambitious – and obtainable – goal of reinstating the lost and lamented Vista Dome North Coast Limited passenger train service from Chicago to the west coast across the former Northern Pacific/now BNSF southern tier line."

If restored, the new Big Sky line would cover southern Montana as part of a larger route from Chicago, running through the Twin Cities and across southern North Dakota into Montana. To advance their proposal, Big Sky officials sought the support of Amtrak, BNSF (whose freight-rail track would host the new passenger-rail service), state transportation officials, county and local governments, and three Tribal Nations. "We’ve made more progress in the last two years than we have in the first 40, and I think passenger-rail service is finally within our grasp," Strohmaier says.

“Our goal is on the restoration of the North Coast Hiawatha route, which could tap into this $12 billion pot of money once the long-distance study is completed in November of 2023, and if our route is recommended to Congress for restoration,” BSPRA Chairman Strohmaier said.