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I've noticed the EB being surprisingly on time into Chicago lately and consistently. For those who've recently ridden the EB, what are you observations as to why EB seems more on time now? Track upgrades perhaps? I'd be interested in rider comments.

Burlington-Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) recently announced it completed a $400 million dollar track upgrade in North Dakota. Sidings, double-tracks, and track improvements between Minot and Williston, and between Devils Lake and Grand Forks. Sidings are designed to allow more trains to pass easier...

Amtrak just called me too; they no longer will accommodate Empire Builder passengers who miss connection in Chicago to Capitol Limited. In the past, Amtrak would put you up for the night in Chicago at their expense if they miss connection. Amtrak said they now put passengers on the Lake Shore...

BNSF freight train carrying over 100 oil tank cars derailed with explosions and fire 1 mile west of Casselton, ND this afternoon. Casselton is about 11 miles west of Fargo. Amtrak Empire Builder does not take the Casselton route which is on the so-called Surrey cutoff for freight traffic...

Thank-you for your informative replies. My flexible schedule allows an extra day in Chicago to connect to Capitol Limited. Not much you can do with Empire Builder: Amtrak's hard-luck line.

I'll be riding Empire Builder (EB) from Montana to Chicago end of February; then connect with Capitol Limited (CL). (I'm aware Amtrak presently not booking same-day Chicago EB connections.) EB's arrival time in Chicago probably won't improve by February enabling same-day connection to CL...

On the Empire Builder, I always take my Radio Shack hand-held multi-trunking scanner, plus my Garmin GPS. A small 110v universal adapter comes in handy too. Great way to keep track of developments, speed, and listen to trains and conductors to determine what delay are, etc. GPS always is a...

The rails east of Minot to Grand Forks are the roughest on EB's route: EB always slows significantly on this section of track. I hope the rebuild uses CWR - continuously welded rail - to smooth the ride and speed the train.

Last year flooding in North Dakota created havoc for east and west bound Empire Builder. Much talk was EB taking Surrey Cut Off east of Minot down to Fargo rather than going east to Grand Forks. Does anyone have updates on this option for this year? Any updates on raising the rail bed at...

My wife and I regularly ride Empire Builder to Chicago and transfer there. Our experience shows metro commuter trains in and around northern Chicago cause some - though not all - Empire Builder delays into Chicago. When our schedule allows, we plan arrival into Chicago on a weekend: preferably...

Amtrak will hold an outbound train if Amtrak knows an inbound train is late and has many passengers who are scheduled to transfer to that outbound train. This is especially true with the Capitol Limited. If the Capitol Limited were to leave on time, every time, then Amtrak would have to make...

My wife and took Empire Builder from Malta, MT to Chicago on 18 May (and return trip on EB 28 May) during high waters in eastern Montana and all through North Dakota. East bound EB was only 8 minutes late in Malta. Montana isn't the issue. North Dakota simply has too many issues of freight...

High water, rough tracks, freight traffic, largely all in North Dakota are challenges Amtrak's Empire Builder faces. Since Amtrak doesn't own the rails, Amtrak doesn't have priority to by-pass all of this. Plus the North Dakota congressional delegation won't let Amtrak divert away from Devils...

My wife and I just completed a trip to Washington D.C. on the Empire Builder (EB) connecting with Capitol Limited (CL) in Chicago to Washington D.C. We boarded at Malta, MT, 18 May going and detrained at Malta coming back. EB loses 3 hours through North Dakota due to freight congestion around...

I'll post this separately. We traveled Empire Builder (EB) 18 and 19 May to Chicago. EB doesn't take Surrey Cutoff east of Minot, ND to Fargo, ND, to by-pass flooding in eastern North Dakota, but still goes through Devils Lake and Grand Forks, then south to Fargo. We crossed Churches Ferry...

BNSF freight trains use Surrey Cutoff just east of Minot so Amtrak doesn't compete with them east of Minot through Grand Forks. But all freighters pass through Minot, Stanley, Williston, ND. If you can get through this area without stopping or slowing for freighters then you have a good chance...

While riding Empire Builder on 18 and 19 May I asked why Capitol Limited now departed 30 minutes earlier from Chicago? Train conductor said construction crews were enlarging tunnels on the line in Pennsylvania to accomodate higher profile box cars. That meant blasting in tunnels. Trains have...

My wife and I took Empire Builder (EB) train 8 from Malta, MT to Chicago, IL on 18 - 19 May 2011. I carried a Garmin GPS device to record train speeds and stopping times. EB was on-time at Malta. From Malta to Williston, ND, 218 miles, average moving speed 64 mph. Lost 90 minutes in...

Amtrak held Capitol Limited (CL) on 19 May in Chicago because Empire Builder (EB) (train 8) was going to arrive Chicago 3 hours late. EB had 12 passengers with sleeping car reservations on CL for 19 May. Amtrak decided holding CL until EB arrived was more economically feasible than putting 12...

My wife and I will board the Empire Builder (EB) this Wednesday, 18 May at Malta, MT bound for Chicago. We will return same route at month's end. I am taking my hand-held Garmin GPS to record EB times and speed throughout the trip to Chicago. I will report what I find. We transfer to the...