Saturday, March 07, 2026
39.0°F

Amtrak’s Empire Builder to resume regular service

JULIE ENGLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 10 months AGO
by JULIE ENGLER
Julie Engler covers Whitefish City Hall and writes community features for the Whitefish Pilot. She earned master's degrees in fine arts and education from the University of Montana. She can be reached at [email protected] or 406-882-3505. | May 11, 2022 1:00 AM

The Empire Builder, Amtrak’s northern cross country train line, is set to resume service seven days a week from Whitefish starting on May 23. The train’s route connects Chicago to Seattle.

In February, Amtrak made temporary changes to the Empire Builder route and reduced departures from Whitefish from seven days a week to five.

According to Marc Magliari, regional Amtrak public relations manager, the reason for the change in schedule was that winter is a soft time of year for train travel.

An Amtrak statement from February explained that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were a major factor in the reduction of services. Several hundred on-board service personnel, conductors, engineers and mechanical crews were adversely affected by the virus resulting in an 8% reduction in services.

Amtrak anticipated a return to normal operations by the end of May and announced the date for daily service to resume through Whitefish is May 23.

ARTICLES BY JULIE ENGLER

Solar project in Whitefish up and running
March 5, 2026 11 p.m.

Solar project in Whitefish up and running

The Community Solar III project broke ground June 12 and began generating solar power to the grid in late January.

People in Your Neighborhood: Sarah Carrillo's smile is good medicine
March 4, 2026 1 a.m.

People in Your Neighborhood: Sarah Carrillo's smile is good medicine

Sarah Carrillo, a medical assistant at Glacier Medical Associates, greets each patient with a bright smile and cares for them as if they were family.

Solar project up and running
March 4, 2026 1 a.m.

Solar project up and running

The Community Solar III project broke ground June 12 and began generating solar power to the grid in late January.