Amtrak to study possible route Chicago to Seattle through Missoula, Montana

Western Montana rail riders praised the passage Tuesday of federal legislation that directs Amtrak to study restoring the state’s southern passenger route.

With a push from the Missoula City Council’s Dave Strohmaier and action from U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 tells Amtrak to look at firing up service between Chicago and Seattle, including a stop in Missoula.

“There’s a lot of people very supportive and very excited about this,” said Michael Ackley, vice president of the Montana Association of Railway Passengers. “I think it’s going to be a benefit to the citizens of the whole state of Montana.”

By KEILA SZPALLER of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/10/31/news/local/news05.txt

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Amtrak bill clears Senate, includes plan to study Idaho route

A bill to boost Amtrak funding cleared the United States Senate Tuesday, with an amendment to consider returning passenger train service to southern Idaho.

The $11.4 billion bill will keep the national passenger railway running across America over the next six years.

Full Story: http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/10/31/ap-state-id/d8sjspg80.txt