On November 14, 1971, Amtrak formally named this service the "North Coast Hiawatha", For four days a week, it ran independently of the "Empire Builder" from the Twin Cities to Spokane. On the other three days of the week, it combined with the "Empire Builder" in Spokane for the trip to Seattle. Amtrak initially named the Minneapolis train "Hiawatha", but adopted the "Twin Cities Hiawatha" name on January 16, 1972. Amtrak reverted to "Hiawatha" on October 29, and this name remained until the "North Coast Hiawatha" went daily for the first time on May 19, 1974.