MISSOULA, Mont. — BNSF Railway has joined the group looking for to revive passenger rail service in southern Montana, a transfer welcomed due to the railroad’s position as major host railroad for the proposed service.
The Missoula Present stories the railroad is now an ex officio member of the Huge Sky Passenger Rail Authority, which seeks to convey again Amtrak service on the route, final operated in 1979, that might serve three of the state’s 4 largest cities.
Authority chairman Dave Strohmaier advised the Present, “We regularly get requested, ‘The place do the host railroads stand with the efforts of the rail authority and passenger rail?’ Any uncertainly is now eliminated for the reason that major host railroad related to the restoration of the North Coast Hiawatha is on the desk with us.”
The railroad joins Amtrak and a consultant of three Native American tribes as ex officio members. Jim Tylick, BNSF’s assistant vice chairman of passenger operations, will function the railroad’s consultant. Seventeen counties now have representatives on the authority’s board. Extra data is on the market on the authority web site.