What is Empire Builder train?

The Empire Builder is an Amtrak long-distance passenger train. It operates between Chicago and either Seattle or Portland via two sections west of Spokane, daily. The passenger train was introduced in 1929 and was the flagship passenger train of the Great Northern Railway and the Burlington Northern Railroad. It was retained by Amtrak when it took control over the intercity rail service in 1971.

For an average speed of 50mph (80kmph), the end-to-end travel time of the route is 45–46 hours. Over a majority of routes, the train travels as fast as 79 mph (127 km/h).

The Empire Builder carried 433,372 passengers during the fiscal year 2019. It was an increase of 1.1% from FY 2018. During FY 2016, the Empire Builder train recorded total revenue of $51,798,583, which was a 2.5% increase as compared to FY2015.

The Empire Builder is Amtrak’s most popular long-distance train. The Empire Builder’s annual ridership averaged 500,000 through FY 2007-2015. The highest ridership (554,266) was recorded in FY 2008.

For the company, revenue soared in FY 2013 at $67,394,779.

Route of the Amtrak train:

The current Amtrak Empire Builder passes through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

It has service stops in Spokane, Washington; Havre, Montana; Minot, North Dakota; and Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Other major stops include Vancouver, Washington; Whitefish, Montana; Williston, North Dakota; Fargo, North Dakota; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The 2021 derailment

At least 3 were killed when an Amtrak train derailed in north-central Montana, an official with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said. Multiple were injured, the official added.

Amtrak said in a statement that there were multiple injuries.

The Empire Builder train derailed at 4 pm near Joplin, a town of about 200, Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said in a statement. The accident scene is about 150 miles (241 kilometers) north of Helena and about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the border with Canada.

The train had about 147 passengers and 13 crew members on board, officials, who were at the scene, said.