[Godzilla]

Were the Empire Builder, like the Southwest Chief, to be scuttled, another great park would be isolated.

the empire builder runs through the least populated part of Montana. For years advocates have called for it to run the southern route Billings-Bozeman-Helena-Missoula but to deaf ears

[Publius]

Once upon a time the southern route of which you speak was served by the Hiawatha trains on the Milwaukee Road, at least until the early Eighties. Both trains need to run, but not as a government-operated railroad.

[John Milner]

Same thing in Iowa. Instead of connecting the Quad Cities (Davenport), Iowa City, Des Moines and Council Bluffs/Omaha it goes through very small towns in Southern Iowa Like Mt. Pleasant Fairfield and Ft Madison.

Another better alternative is the Union Pacific line that runs through Cedar Rapids, Ames, and Clinton.

I never understood why the trains don’t connect the actual population centers where the potential customers are.

[OregonRancher]

We took the Great Northern from Portland to Glacier. The dining car joined us in Spokane. We arrived at the west entrance three hours late due to freight trains having priority on the tracks.
Our return trip was even worse as the train was 5 1/2 hours late just getting to the portal.
Speaking to the porters, we were told this normal.

Never again.

[minnesota_bound]

Last stop!

City of New Orleans song