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Empire Builder moved to a more southerly route?

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[quote user="nanaimo73"] Dave,Since Amtrak does not have the equipment, I presume you want to see to see the current Empire Builder detoured off of its present route between Fargo and Sandpoint rather than trying to extend the Portland section of the Empire Builder east from Spokane.The route would be about 30 miles shorter, but I would guess 4 hours longer. Would Amtrak need to increase the HP/T due to the grades on the former NP ?[/quote]Frankly, I'd like to see the Portland-Spokane section removed.  Either go Spokane to Seattle and let Portlanders use the Coast Starlight(?) to access the EB, or go Spokane to Portland and let the Puget Sounders use the CS to access the EB.  And if the EB is moved to the ex-NP between Spokane and Seattle, it becomes almost nonsensical to split the EB at Pasco.FYI - if the EB was moved down via Pasco and Stampede Pass, it'd add a lot more than 4 hours to the EB trip!Bottom line:  Since there is already Amtrak service between Portland and Seattle, there's no need to split the EB.[quote]I would also guess North Dakota would be against this, as Williston, Minot, Devils Lake and Grand Forks have a lot more voters than Bismarck does.[/quote]As for North Dakota, isn't there (or wasn't there) a rail connection between Williston on the ex-GN and Glendive on the ex-NP?  If so, why not route the EB along that line?  Otherwise, I'd think that the ex-NP through ND has less rail traffic than the ex-GN, and the populations of Dickinson, Mandan, Bismark, Jamestown, and Valley City certainly rival those of Williston, Minot, Devils Lake, and Grand Forks.[quote]Montana would need to pay all of the costs involved in a route change. [/quote]Well, I suppose, although if one thinks about it a reroute of the EB through more populated territory should result in greater patronage.  If anything, they'd be doing Amtrak a favor!
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