In 1973, Amtrak operated two trains between Seattle and Spokane: the daily Empire Builder and the thrice-weekly North Coast Hiawatha. Both were long-distance trains which originated in Chicago. Each took different routes west from Spokane, though both routes had belonged to the merged Burlington Northern Railroad since 1970. The Empire Builder used the ex-Northern Pacific Railway via Pasco, Washington, while beginning in 1973 the North Coast Hiawatha used the ex-Great Northern Railway via Stevens Pass. Neither train provided convenient timings between the two cities, and the westbound trains were likely to be late because of accumulated delays.: