Sens. Tester, Baucus advocate for additional Amtrak Empire Builder stop for Bakken oil workers

U.S. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) earlier this week secured a meeting between Culbertson, Mont., leaders and Amtrak to plan the construction of a new Empire Builder station to serve people traveling to the Bakken region.

Tester and Baucus recently asked Amtrak to study the possibility of adding a stop in Culbertson to give area oil workers easier access to the fast-growing region.

"At the intersection of two major highways, Culbertson is a prime location for an Amtrak stop that feeds the Bakken and makes it easier for workers to get to the region," said Culbertson Mayor Gordon Oelkers in a press release issued by Tester’s office.

This week's meeting included a visit to the site of the proposed station. The meeting focused on the steps needed to complete the stop, the senators said.

"Amtrak does a great job connecting Montanans and this meeting is an important step to providing greater service to Montana,” Tester said. “I will continue to work with Amtrak and folks in Culbertson to get this station built."