Northern Lights Express

[Northwestern]

Things seem to be progressing regarding the "Northern Lights Express" passenger train, Duluth to the Twin Cities.

Duluth-Twin Cities passenger rail funded in transportation budget deal

House and Senate lawmakers have agreed on a final transportation budget bill that includes $194.7 million for Northern Lights Express rail. But it has to go through a few more steps.

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Minnesota would pay 20% of the cost. The train would run 4 times a day, round trip. Amtrak says it would be interested in taking on the route.

I believe the last passenger train to run that route was the "Arrowhead" (1975-1978). The Arrowhead was the last passenger train to use the old Great Northern station in Minneapolis.

A chance to visit the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth.

Welcome to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum - Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Open Daily from 10am to 5pm, you can explore the impressive collection of historic railroad equipment that built Minnesota and our country. The museum is located in downtown Duluth, in the platforms at yard of the original Historic Union Depot, built in 1892. From immaculately restored...

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[fdaley]

I believe there was an Amtrak run called The North Star, a Twin Cities-Duluth run at the end, that ran until about 1985 and operated out of the Midway Station.

 

[Anderson]

I believe there was an Amtrak run called The North Star, a Twin Cities-Duluth run at the end, that ran until about 1985 and operated out of the Midway Station.

I believe that it was extended to Chicago for some time as well.

 

[zephyr17]

Things seem to be progressing regarding the "Northern Lights Express" passenger train, Duluth to the Twin Cities.

Duluth-Twin Cities passenger rail funded in transportation budget deal

House and Senate lawmakers have agreed on a final transportation budget bill that includes $194.7 million for Northern Lights Express rail. But it has to go through a few more steps.

is.gd

Minnesota would pay 20% of the cost. The train would run 4 times a day, round trip. Amtrak says it would be interested in taking on the route.

I believe the last passenger train to run that route was the "Arrowhead" (1975-1978). The Arrowhead was the last passenger train to use the old Great Northern station in Minneapolis.

A chance to visit the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth.

Welcome to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum - Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Open Daily from 10am to 5pm, you can explore the impressive collection of historic railroad equipment that built Minnesota and our country. The museum is located in downtown Duluth, in the platforms at yard of the original Historic Union Depot, built in 1892. From immaculately restored...

is.gd

That 20% of the cost is due to limited time Federal startup grants.

When the grants run out, the State of Minnesota would be on the hook for 100% of the costs.

Amtrak is forbidden from using own its subsidy to support operation of it since it is less than 750 miles.

This is all per statutory law, the PRIIA Act of 2008. Amtrak has zero discretion in the matter, except for helping Minnesota get grants unrelated to its own operating subsidy.

 

[Maverickstation]

North Star (Amtrak train) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jphjaxfl]

I lived in Minneapolis from 1975 to 1993 and traveled on the North Star from Minneapolis to Duluth numerous times. It originally departed from Minneapolis' beautiful Great Northern Station and later the Midway Station. It was very well patronized especially on weekends, but not as much during the week. In the last few years, it was combined with the Twin Cities to Chicago train which was great for through passengers, but not so great for Twin Cities to Duluth. They really needed 2 trains in each direction like the former Gopher/Badger passenger trains which provided twice daily Twin Cities/Twin Ports passenger service.

 

[Crowbar_k]

Northern Lights Express Alliance celebrates Minneapolis-Duluth train funding signed by Gov. Walz

Passengers will be able to buy a $35 train ticket to Duluth in 3 to 5 years after $194 million in state money unlocks 80% of the cost to be paid in federal money.

www.kare11.com

 

[UserNameRequired]

Things seem to be progressing regarding the "Northern Lights Express" passenger train, Duluth to the Twin Cities.
…

A chance to visit the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth.

Welcome to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum - Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Open Daily from 10am to 5pm, you can explore the impressive collection of historic railroad equipment that built Minnesota and our country. The museum is located in downtown Duluth, in the platforms at yard of the original Historic Union Depot, built in 1892. From immaculately restored...

is.gd

There is a display at the museum promoting the future running of the train, as of a couple years ago anyway.