U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy told a room of rail advocates and state officials Wednesday that Montana needs to get serious about passenger rail — and that federal support could help make it happen. Sheehy, a Republican, spoke at the Greater Northwest Rail Summit in Helena, arguing that expanded passenger service could relieve pressure on the state's increasingly crowded airports while driving new tourism revenue.
The summit drew planners and advocates from across the region to discuss the future of intercity rail in the Northwest. Montana's existing passenger rail service — Amtrak's Empire Builder, which cuts across the Hi-Line — has long been the state's only intercity option, leaving the bulk of the state without rail access. Sheehy's appearance signals at least some Republican willingness at the federal level to engage the issue, which has historically found more support among Democrats.
For Helena, the rail conversation is particularly pointed. The capital city sits off the Empire Builder's route and has no intercity passenger rail connection. Any expanded network that included a Helena stop — something advocates have floated for years — would represent a fundamental change in how residents connect to Missoula, Billings, and points beyond.
Sheehy did not outline specific legislation Wednesday, but his presence at the summit and his comments about federal support suggest the issue may find more traction in Washington than it has in recent sessions. What happens next depends heavily on federal appropriations and whether Montana's congressional delegation can move from enthusiasm to funding.