Rededication of Refurbished Empire Builder Amtrak Trains

I helped kick off refurbished Empire Builder Amtrak train coaches today (nice hat, huh?). 

The Empire Builder provides daily service between Chicago and Seattle Portland via Spokane.  Amtrak is a vital domestic transportation link for Portland; Over 60,000 people board or depart from Portland’s Union Station.  Seattle/Portland-Chicago coach fares range from $125-$275 each way depending on advanced purchase and/or date of travel.

I am a big fan of Amtrak so earlier this year I sponsored a resolution passed by the Portland City Council calling for adequate and stable federal funding for Amtrak.

The Empire Builder was named for James J. Hill, founder of the now defunct Great Northern Railway.

The City of Portland owns Union Station. www.splintercat.org says, Portland’s Union Station was dedicated on February 14, 1896. It was built in the Italian Renaissance style, in a graceful curve that faced downtown. It was easily the finest rail station in the West, and was constructed in an elegant blend of brick, stucco and sandstone. The total project cost $300,000. Central to the station design was the 150-foot clock tower, which was later modified to include the neon "Go By Train" signs that are a familiar Portland icon today.

In over a century of operation, Union Station has seen the freight operations that once surrounded it gradually move north and across the Willamette River, along with the major river terminals. Today, the station continues to serve as a busy passenger rail and inter-city bus hub, but is now surrounded by the lofts and townhouses of the trendy Pearl and River districts.

If you are a rail history fan, check out the Portland-based Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

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