Commuter rail projects in Minnesota
Encyclopedia
There are several passenger rail projects being discussed in Minnesota
. There is currently one existing commuter rail service in the state, the Northstar Line, and one existing long-distance intercity rail service, the Empire Builder
. Future projects include a mixture of short-distance commuter rail and medium-distance regional rail
lines which would run from the Twin Cities
outward to neighboring states and perhaps Canada
.
This article is focused on heavy-rail projects and does not discuss potential light rail
lines in the core Twin Cities area.
to the northwest toward the central Minnesota city of St. Cloud
. The line officially began service on November 16, 2009, and currently runs about half the distance to St. Cloud, terminating in Big Lake
, with bus service covering the remaining distance. The train operates at up to 79 miles per hour (35.3 m/s).
(I-94) including the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Canadian Pacific rail lines. It is projected to open by 2018 between Hastings and Minneapolis.
Cities along the corridor include: Hastings, Denmark Township, Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, Newport, St. Paul, and Minneapolis. The line could also expand to Red Wing at a later date.
The Minneapolis end of the route would be at Target Field station, and it would connect to Saint Paul Union Depot
. Other potential stops include: University of Minnesota Station, Snelling Avenue Station, Rice Street Station, Lower Afton Road Station, Newport Station, Cottage Grove Station, and the Milwaukee Road Hastings Depot.
(I-94). Studies are under way, led by the Gateway Corridor Commission, evaluating light rail, bus rapid transit and commuter rail service.
The LRT and BRT options would run along or parallel to I-94, with potential stops in Saint Paul, Maplewood, Landfall, Oakdale, Woodbury, and Hudson, Wisconsin. Potential commuter rail stops along the corridor include: Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Oakdale and Lake Elmo in Minnesota and Hudson, Baldwin, Menomonie and Eau Claire in Wisconsin.
to Hinckley
via White Bear Lake
, Forest Lake
and Pine City
. Commuter rail, bus rapid transit
, light rail transit and express bus options are under consideration for parts of the 80-mile corridor. If it becomes a full-length rail line, it could connect to the Northern Lights Express in Hinckley or continue directly to Duluth.
This rail corridor has historically been known as the "Skally Line
". A portion of it is still operated by the St. Croix Valley Railroad
, but much has been abandoned.
and downtown Minneapolis. This would follow part of the route of the proposed Northern Lights Express
to Duluth
, but would stop at more stations. It is unknown at this point in time if the line will continue with study process.
and downtown Minneapolis, using existing Twin Cities & Western trackage. It is unknown if the line will go beyond the study process.
and Duluth, Minnesota
. About halfway along the line is Hinckley, Minnesota
which is expected to be a big draw from both ends of the line due to the presence of a major casino
. This could be considered inter-city rail
due to a limited number of stops. It is planned to run at up to 110 miles per hour (49.2 m/s).
would require building new rails, as no direct route exists to the Twin Cities. It will likely be built with initial top speeds of 110 mph (49.2 m/s), however, "Any new construction should not preclude 150 mph (67.1 m/s) service implementation at a later date." In 2009, it was identified as a Phase I corridor for implementation before 2030. The Rochester route is also being considered as an alternative for high-speed rail to Chicago, Illinois since it could provide more riders and higher speed than the current Mississippi River
route taken by the Amtrak
Empire Builder
.
was identified in 2009 as a Phase I corridor for implementation before 2030. It would use "enhanced conventional" service of 79 mile per hour and would likely make use of existing rails owned by the Union Pacific Railroad
(ex-Omaha Road/Chicago and North Western). This could become Eau Claire's first train service since the Twin Cities 400
ended service in 1963. In August 2010, it was designated as the "Gateway Corridor" and an alternatives analysis study was begun.
was also identified as a Phase I corridor with "enhanced conventional" 79 to 90 mph speeds in 2009.
–Minnesota border is also planned for Phase I. The Amtrak
Empire Builder
currently has service along this route, but it is inconveniently timed for passengers in Fargo since it's typically scheduled for between 2 and 4 AM. A few more trains per day could be added relatively easily because stations already exist. However, this is also used as BNSF Railway
's busy northern transcontinental line, which is expected to need significant upgrades in order to handle increased freight traffic in the coming years.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. There is currently one existing commuter rail service in the state, the Northstar Line, and one existing long-distance intercity rail service, the Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
. Future projects include a mixture of short-distance commuter rail and medium-distance regional rail
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
lines which would run from the Twin Cities
Twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...
outward to neighboring states and perhaps Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
This article is focused on heavy-rail projects and does not discuss potential light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
lines in the core Twin Cities area.
Northstar
The Northstar Line is a state and federally funded commuter rail line that serves a region which from MinneapolisMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
to the northwest toward the central Minnesota city of St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
. The line officially began service on November 16, 2009, and currently runs about half the distance to St. Cloud, terminating in Big Lake
Big Lake, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,063 people, 2,117 households, and 1,570 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,688.4 people per square mile . There were 2,206 housing units at an average density of 614.3 per square mile...
, with bus service covering the remaining distance. The train operates at up to 79 miles per hour (35.3 m/s).
Proposed metropolitan services
These corridors are generally less than 50 miles (80.5 km) in length, although they could potentially be expanded beyond that distance. These would have relatively frequent stops.Red Rock
The Red Rock Corridor is a 30-mile transportation corridor running from Hastings through downtown St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis traversing the counties of Dakota, Washington, Ramsey, and Hennepin. It is roughly parallel to U.S. Highway 61 and Interstate 94Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
(I-94) including the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Canadian Pacific rail lines. It is projected to open by 2018 between Hastings and Minneapolis.
Cities along the corridor include: Hastings, Denmark Township, Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, Newport, St. Paul, and Minneapolis. The line could also expand to Red Wing at a later date.
The Minneapolis end of the route would be at Target Field station, and it would connect to Saint Paul Union Depot
Saint Paul Union Depot
The Saint Paul Union Depot was the main train station in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Saint Paul Union Depot Company controlled of St. Paul trackage and terminal facilities, including the depot building...
. Other potential stops include: University of Minnesota Station, Snelling Avenue Station, Rice Street Station, Lower Afton Road Station, Newport Station, Cottage Grove Station, and the Milwaukee Road Hastings Depot.
Gateway Corridor
The Gateway Corridor runs 90 miles from downtown Saint Paul to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, generally running parallel to Interstate 94Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
(I-94). Studies are under way, led by the Gateway Corridor Commission, evaluating light rail, bus rapid transit and commuter rail service.
The LRT and BRT options would run along or parallel to I-94, with potential stops in Saint Paul, Maplewood, Landfall, Oakdale, Woodbury, and Hudson, Wisconsin. Potential commuter rail stops along the corridor include: Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Oakdale and Lake Elmo in Minnesota and Hudson, Baldwin, Menomonie and Eau Claire in Wisconsin.
Rush Line
The Rush Line is a proposed mass transit link from downtown Saint PaulSaint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
to Hinckley
Hinckley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,291 people, 551 households, and 332 families residing in the city. The population density was 454.3 people per square mile . There were 614 housing units at an average density of 216.0 per square mile...
via White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake, Minnesota
White Bear Lake is a city in Ramsey and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 23,797 at the 2010 census. The city is located on White Bear Lake, one of the largest lakes in the Minneapolis-St...
, Forest Lake
Forest Lake, Minnesota
Forest Lake is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 18,375 at the 2010 census. It is located on Minnesota's 94th largest lake .Interstate 35 and U.S...
and Pine City
Pine City, Minnesota
Pine City is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,123 at the 2010 census. Pine City is the county seat of, and the largest city in, Pine County...
. Commuter rail, bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
, light rail transit and express bus options are under consideration for parts of the 80-mile corridor. If it becomes a full-length rail line, it could connect to the Northern Lights Express in Hinckley or continue directly to Duluth.
This rail corridor has historically been known as the "Skally Line
St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
The St. Paul and Duluth Railroad was reorganized from the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad in 1877. It was bought by the Northern Pacific in 1900...
". A portion of it is still operated by the St. Croix Valley Railroad
St. Croix Valley Railroad
The St. Croix Valley Railroad is a Class III short line railroad that operates over 36 miles of track in eastern Minnesota. The railroad is co-owned by KBN Incorporated and Independent Locomotive Service and is headquartered in Rush City, Minnesota.As of 2008, the St. Croix Valley Railroad...
, but much has been abandoned.
Bethel
The Bethel Corridor is a proposed commuter rail line along BNSF tracks between Bethel, MinnesotaBethel, Minnesota
Bethel is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 466 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. 237th Avenue / County 24 serves as a main route in the community...
and downtown Minneapolis. This would follow part of the route of the proposed Northern Lights Express
Northern Lights Express
The Northern Lights Express is a proposed passenger rail service running along the corridor between Minneapolis and Duluth primarily in the U.S. state of Minnesota. A portion of the line will run through neighboring Wisconsin to serve Duluth's "Twin Port" of Superior. Plans are to upgrade an...
to Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, but would stop at more stations. It is unknown at this point in time if the line will continue with study process.
Norwood/Young America
The Norwood Corridor is a proposed rail line between MinnetonkaMinnetonka, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,301 people, 21,393 households, and 14,097 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,893.0 persons per square mile . There were 22,228 housing units at an average density of 818.9 per square mile...
and downtown Minneapolis, using existing Twin Cities & Western trackage. It is unknown if the line will go beyond the study process.
Proposed regional services
These services will run distances of more than 50 miles (80.5 km) and would have the potential to run at speeds higher than the common limit of 79 mph. They will likely have fewer stops than the routes outlined above. Several routes were outlined in the 2009 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan. The plan had two phases defined: Phase I for projects intended for completion before 2030, and Phase II for projects beyond that date.Northern Lights Express
The Northern Lights Express is a proposed line to Superior, WisconsinSuperior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
and Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
. About halfway along the line is Hinckley, Minnesota
Hinckley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,291 people, 551 households, and 332 families residing in the city. The population density was 454.3 people per square mile . There were 614 housing units at an average density of 216.0 per square mile...
which is expected to be a big draw from both ends of the line due to the presence of a major casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
. This could be considered inter-city rail
Inter-city rail
Inter-city rail services are express passenger train services that cover longer distances than commuter or regional trains.There is no precise definition of inter-city rail. Its meaning may vary from country to country...
due to a limited number of stops. It is planned to run at up to 110 miles per hour (49.2 m/s).
Rochester
A proposal to connect the southeastern city of RochesterRochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
would require building new rails, as no direct route exists to the Twin Cities. It will likely be built with initial top speeds of 110 mph (49.2 m/s), however, "Any new construction should not preclude 150 mph (67.1 m/s) service implementation at a later date." In 2009, it was identified as a Phase I corridor for implementation before 2030. The Rochester route is also being considered as an alternative for high-speed rail to Chicago, Illinois since it could provide more riders and higher speed than the current Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
route taken by the Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
.
Eau Claire
Along with the Northern Lights Express and the Rochester link, a line eastward to Eau Claire, WisconsinEau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
was identified in 2009 as a Phase I corridor for implementation before 2030. It would use "enhanced conventional" service of 79 mile per hour and would likely make use of existing rails owned by the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
(ex-Omaha Road/Chicago and North Western). This could become Eau Claire's first train service since the Twin Cities 400
Twin Cities 400
The 400 was a named passenger train operated by the Chicago and North Western Railway between Chicago and Saint Paul, with a final stop in Minneapolis...
ended service in 1963. In August 2010, it was designated as the "Gateway Corridor" and an alternatives analysis study was begun.
Mankato
The Minnesota Valley Line running southwest to Mankato, MinnesotaMankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
was also identified as a Phase I corridor with "enhanced conventional" 79 to 90 mph speeds in 2009.
Fargo–Moorhead
Expanded service to the Fargo–Moorhead area on the North DakotaNorth Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
–Minnesota border is also planned for Phase I. The Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
currently has service along this route, but it is inconveniently timed for passengers in Fargo since it's typically scheduled for between 2 and 4 AM. A few more trains per day could be added relatively easily because stations already exist. However, this is also used as BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
's busy northern transcontinental line, which is expected to need significant upgrades in order to handle increased freight traffic in the coming years.
Phase II corridors
Conventional-speed trains running up to 79 mph are also planned beyond 2030 for- The Little Crow Line from the Twin Cities to westward to Willmar, MinnesotaWillmar, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile . There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile...
and Sioux Falls, South DakotaSioux Falls, South DakotaSioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
. - Expanding from the Minnesota Valley Line in Mankato through Worthington, MinnesotaWorthington, MinnesotaWorthington is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 12,764 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nobles County.The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the Chicago, St...
and beyond toward Sioux City, IowaSioux City, IowaSioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state.... - A line from the Twin Cities southward to Albert Lea, MinnesotaAlbert Lea, MinnesotaAlbert Lea is a city in and the county seat of Freeborn County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census....
, through IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
to Kansas CityKansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. - And an extension northward from Fargo/Moorhead to Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.