Broadcast Friday morning, 07 Dec. 2012 - by Dan Boyce - link to transcript and audio - check out the comments below as well:
http://www.npr.org/2012/12/07/166713212/amtraks-empire-builder-line#commentBlock
"Oil development in North Dakota and Montana has caused ridership to increase dramatically on the only Amtrak line running through those states. Nationally, the railroad company costs the federal government more than $400 million every year, so rail enthusiasts thought the oil boom might turn around the losing rail proposition in certain regions. But the Empire Builder Line is still not making money."
Most provocative quote:
"BOYCE: Washington state resident Steven McDuffie travels through Montana to get to the Bakken too. Politically he's libertarian. He's pretty much against the idea of government supported transportation. But, he's been riding the Empire Builder every two weeks since February. And some of the stereotypes about riding Amtrak, he says they hold up.
MCDUFFIE: This is the first time that the train left Edmonds, Washington on time and it's the first time where we're actually scheduled to get into Williston on time since I've been taking the train.
BOYCE: Overall though, he says his gripes are pretty minor. And, again, it's cheap.
MCDUFFIE: I know this is ironic because I'm - philosophically I'm opposed to public transportation, but yet here I am having a pretty good time on the Amtrak train."
- Paul North.
Thanks for the heads-up, Paul.
Yeah, train time at Williston is a throwback to 50 years ago. (I was through twice in September.) If it could be replicated on platforms all over the system, we'd really have something!
It is well known that Amtrak does not make a profit on the Empire Builder. However, it does not follow that more passengers getting on and off at Williston (or any station) is not a good thing. They certainly increase the revenue for the Empire Builder. Also, more passengers need more local transportation and other local services which is helpful to the area. (The eastbound train stops about 7pm and the westbound train stops about 2:00 pm).
In 2010 there were about 24,500 boardings and alightings at Williston; in 2011 there were 29,920. North Dakota had about 125,000 boardings and alightings in 2010 and about 110,000 in 2011. The 2011 figure was reduced because of flooding problems Amtrak had to cope with. (This information is from Amtrak;s North Dakota Fact Sheet. I give approximate numbers because I just cannot remember the whole list).
In a year Amtrak's Empire Builder had to struggle with a weather emergency Williston is clearly a bright spot.
Also, an important purpose of Amtrak is to serve a social need. Clearly it is doing so at Williston.
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