Montana May See Train Travel Changes In the Future

Walking the dog the other day in Missoula there was the unmistakable sound of a train going through the area. The train had to be a freight train since passenger trains don't travel through Missoula anymore. That could be changing in the future. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Division,  Amtrak's long-distance expansion plans include possible Pacific Northwest and North and South routes that could include Missoula, Billings, and Helena, Montana.

Passenger Travel Stopped in Missoula in 1979

Passenger train travel stopped going through Missoula in 1979. Train travel has continued in Montana with Amtrak's "Empire Builder" that travels along the northern part of the state to the present day. I have never had the opportunity to travel by train in Montana. I was too young when they stopped passenger service out of Missoula and catching the Empire Builder has never been an option for me. I have had the opportunity to travel by train in other countries and it was great.

No "Bullet Trains", But We May See Passenger Trains

I am doubtful that Montana will ever see a "bullet train" anytime soon. They can reach speeds of 200mph. I don't think that would work with the mountains and terrain that Montana has, but a regular train option for travel looks like a possibility.

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The Seattle-Chicago Route May Change Through Montana

There are multiple routes that are being considered. Two of the Northwest routes could include Missoula, Helena, and Billings. There are two other routes that are being considered in Montana and that would be a north and south route from El Paso, Texas to Billings, Montana.

The Federal Government Is Studying These Routes

The Federal Government is studying the viability of these routes, and they are examining the effectiveness of expanding Amtrak's routes. They are looking at different ways this could work. They are looking at connectivity, links to communities, and economic impacts of areas among many other factors in the decisions.

If These Changes Happen, It Won't Be Soon

None of these changes may be happening anytime soon. These are long-term plans for travel. Some of these routes may have a 15 year time frame and some even further out. Some long term implementations may not happen until 2060 or beyond. How different will Montana look by 2060? Will we even need train travel by then? Will flying cars be the preferred mode of transportation in Montana by then? Either way, I am all for another form of transportation to and from Montana.