ST. PAUL - Two Minnesota Legislature transportation leaders told the federal Surface Transportation Board on Wednesday that North Dakota crude oil is forcing delays on Amtrak's Empire Builder.
The train carries passengers from Chicago to the northwestern United States, including through Minnesota and North Dakota. Amtrak estimates the average train delay is eight to 10 hours.
Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Frank Hornstein, both Minneapolis Democrats, wrote in a letter to board Chairman Daniel Elliott III that increased use of freight trains, led by North Dakota oil trains, cause the delay.
"As of June 2014, Amtrak reported a 15 percent drop in ridership attributable to delays," the lawmakers wrote. "Amtrak estimates its monthly losses to exceed $1 million for the Empire Builder alone."
