On September 25, 2009, the Amtrak Empire Builder will make a new stop on its way east to Chicago. It’ll stop at Leavenworth’s new Icicle Station (code: LWA) at about 8:10 p.m., three hours after leaving Seattle. Round trip fares start at $36. The return trip is a bit of a forced eye-opener, departing Leavenworth at 6:15 in the morning and pulling into Seattle around 10:30.

This is terrific news because Leavenworth should only be traveled to by train. The Bavarian-style village has a charm that the clickety-clack of rail can only add to. This weekend is the Autumn Leaf Festival, but the canny little town’s marketers are working hard to arrange it so a festival experience can be had ever six hours or so in Leavenworth. Their Oktoberfest is October 2 and 3.

Amtrak is all over the news lately–rising ridership has people taking a second look at new and discontinued routes. One revival under discussion is the Pioneer Route, cut in 1997. That route used to run from Denver to Portland, stopping in Salt Lake City, Pocatello, and Boise.

A recent feasibility study reported start-up costs could require $400 million, and an annual federal subsidy of $30 million. The study looked at four possible routes: Salt Lake City to Seattle, Denver to Seattle, Salt Lake City to Portland, and Denver to Portland. (The routes including Seattle achieved the highest projected ridership, so you know, take that, PDX.)

A final report heads to Congress on October 15.