For the past few years, there has been an effort to restore passenger rail service along the North Coast Hiawatha line in southern Montana. Amtrak cancelled the North Coast Hiawatha line in 1979.

As of right now, the only passenger rail service in Montana is the Empire Builder which crosses the northern part of the state and runs between Chicago and the west coast.

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The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority has led the fight to restore passenger train service in southern Montana. Many counties in Montana have shown support in the effort and other states such as North Dakota and Minnesota have jumped on board.

With help from the Build Back Better transportation infrastructure bill, organizers are hoping that the dream of bringing back the rail line will become a reality.

The effort has been gaining a lot of momentum and recently received an endorsement from former Montana resident and Acadamy Award-Winning actor J.K Simmons. Simmons and his brother David recorded a song and video titled 'All Aboard Montana' in support of restoring passenger rail service along the North Coast Hiawatha Line in southern Montana.

YouTube Photo Credit: Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
YouTube
Photo Credit: Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
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The video was shared by the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority on Wednesday. Watch the video below.

According to a press release from the BSPRA, J.K. and David both graduated from the University of Montana, where their father, Donald Simmons, was the longtime director of the UM School of Music.

In other Montana train news, Montana Rail Link was recently sold to Burlington Northern Railroad.

Dear MRL Employees: I have some important news to share, and we want to make sure you hear it directly from us before it becomes public. After careful consideration, we have decided to conclude our long-term lease with BNSF Railway. BNSF will resume operations and maintenance of MRL which will provide long-term sustainability, predictability and opportunity for you and our Montana customers.

said MRL President Derek Ollman in a letter to Montana Rail Link employees.

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