Ispolkom
Engineer
There's no possibility of getting state funding in Minnesota for rail, with the present political situation. The big infrastructure debate this year is going to be a new Vikings football stadium. I'd love a Twin Cities-Chicago train, since I can't rely on the eastbound Empire Builder, but I don't see it happening.. Would Minnesota be able to provide state funding to buy additional bi-level corridor cars as part of the Midwest order? Many things to work out and lots of hurdles to clear before corridor service can start.
From AlanB
I'm concerned that the Central Corridor line will have big problems getting ridership. Unlike the present Hiawatha line the Central Corridor line will be mostly street running, with the traffic signals controlling the train, rather than the train controlling the traffic signals. Add to that the excessively close stations that my city of St. Paul has demanded, and it will take longer on the light-rail to travel between the two downtowns than on the present express bus.And once the new Central light rail line opens, I'd expect a good bump in ridership on Northstar too, as people will be able to get to more places.