MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Amtrak says recent flooding has forced Amtrak to temporarily suspend operation of the long-distance Empire Builder train across Wisconsin.

However, its passenger train service between Milwaukee and Chicago continues to set ridership records.

Amtrak says more than 64,000 passengers used the trains in May, another monthly record.

For the first five months of the year, the seven daily Hiawatha Service round trips carried more than 281,000 passengers. Amtrak says that's a 24 percent increase over last year.

Amtrak says it's restoring service along its Chicago-to-Los Angeles route that was suspended because of flooding in the Midwest.

The rail company suspended service between Kansas City and Chicago on June 17th because of flooding in Iowa. Only one station along the route -- in Fort Madison, Iowa -- remains closed.

Meanwhile, Amtrak service between St. Paul, Minnesota, and Chicago and between Chicago and Denver will continue to be temporarily suspended.

Amtrak is providing rides by chartered motorcoach for some destinations but isn't offering any travel alternatives to or from cities in Iowa.

Passengers are urged to call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL for more information.

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