EB Problems Prompt New Chicago-Seattle Service

[CHamilton]

MILWAUKEE, April 1, 2014 — A consortium of rail firms — including Iowa Pacific, Montana Rail Link, and Talgo, together with the reluctant cooperation of BNSF — have been negotiating to offer passenger rail service between Seattle and Chicago.
Sources indicate, on condition of anonymity, that the service will begin operations on April 15, the same day that Amtrak’s Empire Builder’s schedule will be lengthened by three hours due to extreme congestion on BNSF’s “Hi-Line” route through North Dakota and Montana.

The service is planned to use equipment provided by Iowa Pacific, including historic sleeping, dining, and dome cars, together with the Talgo train sets that have been gathering dust since the state of Wisconsin reneged on its contract to purchase them.

Details are still being worked out, but the service will apparently travel between Seattle and Spokane over Stampede Pass, then connect with Montana Rail Link through southern Montana. From there, the service will take a circuitous route through South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. This will be necessary since the Talgo train sets were moved out of Milwaukee under cover of darkness, and Wisconsin officials have threatened to impound them if they reappear in the state.

Given the uncertainty about the route, it is unclear how long the trip from Seattle to Chicago will actually take. But, said a source, “So what? No one knows how long the Empire Builder will take these days, either. With Iowa Pacific accommodations, food and beverages, passengers won’t care when they get to Chicago.”

Minnesota officials have expressed frustration that the new service will not serve their state, and have plans to start a shuttle service, tentatively called the Lutefisk Limited, that would connect with the larger train.

The consortium is still debating what the new Seattle-Chicago train will be called. Iowa Pacific is lobbying for The Prairie Dog Pullman, while Talgo prefers Amber Waves and Tilts. “It sounds better in Spanish,” admits a Talgo spokesperson.

Tickets will go on sale in a few days. “We’re just waiting to finish hiring our web development team. But there will be a lot of folks available, now that the deadline for purchasing health care has passed."

 

[jebr]

I'm pretty sure it's still March 31 out there.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[SarahZ]

This is hilarious.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

It's still March 31 except in the Eastern Time Zone where this would not operate in the first place!!!!! :giggle:

 

[NorthShore]

What a wonderfully twisted plot

 

[Acela150]

 

[Bob Dylan]

Great News! Look forward to riding it next time I'm in the NW!

Sent from my Motto G Phone aboard the Sunset Ltd. East somewhere between NOL and Florida! LOL

 

[The Davy Crockett]

But will it connect to the Sunset Ltd East? :unsure:

 

[Ryan]

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Wow we actually had an April fools joke.

 

[oregon pioneer]

"Lutefisk Limited", love it!!!! Great one, Charlie.

 

[XHRTSP]

It's been a year now, any progress on this new train?

 

[fairviewroad]

It's been a year now, any progress on this new train?

No need, since the Empire Builder's problems have all been solved!

 

[jebr]

I'd still take the Lutefisk Limited. But only if there's no lutefisk on the train.