Recent from talks
Passenger rail projects in Minnesota
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Passenger rail projects in Minnesota
There are several passenger rail projects being discussed in Minnesota. There is one existing commuter rail service in the state, the Northstar Line, and two existing long-distance intercity rail services, the Empire Builder and the Borealis. 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 existing or potential light rail lines in the core Twin Cities area.
The Northstar Line is a state and federally funded commuter rail line that serves a region from Minneapolis northwest toward the central Minnesota city of St. Cloud. The line began service on November 16, 2009, and 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 (127 km/h). MnDOT previously identified this line as a Tier One Passenger Rail line.
These corridors are generally less than 50 miles (80 km) in length, but could be expanded beyond that distance. Many have either a parallel BRT route or have not been seriously considered for passenger rail traffic.
The Red Rock Corridor is a 30-mile corridor running from Hastings through downtown St. Paul in the counties of Dakota, Washington, and Ramsey. Communities along the corridor include Hastings, Denmark Township, Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, Newport, and St. Paul. Additional stops in downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, Snelling Avenue, Rice Street, Lower Afton Road, Newport were proposed, as was a deferred extension to Red Wing.
The Minneapolis end of the route was initially designated to be at Target Field station, but revised to terminate at Saint Paul Union Depot. An alternative analyses study determined Bus rapid transit to be the preferred alternative for at least part of this segment. MnDOT previously identified this line as a Tier One Passenger Rail line.
The Gateway Corridor parallels Interstate 94 (I-94) between downtown St. Paul and the Eastern Suburbs. Studies, led by the Gateway Corridor Commission, determined BRT to be the preferred alternative for the corridor, and rail is no longer being considered.
The Rush Line is a proposed mass transit link from downtown Saint Paul to Hinckley via White Bear Lake, Forest Lake and Pine City. Commuter rail, bus rapid transit, light rail transit and express bus options were considered for parts of the 80-mile corridor. Studies concluded in 2017, and BRT was selected as the locally preferred alternative. MnDOT previously identified this line as a Tier Two Passenger Rail line.
Hub AI
Passenger rail projects in Minnesota AI simulator
(@Passenger rail projects in Minnesota_simulator)
Passenger rail projects in Minnesota
There are several passenger rail projects being discussed in Minnesota. There is one existing commuter rail service in the state, the Northstar Line, and two existing long-distance intercity rail services, the Empire Builder and the Borealis. 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 existing or potential light rail lines in the core Twin Cities area.
The Northstar Line is a state and federally funded commuter rail line that serves a region from Minneapolis northwest toward the central Minnesota city of St. Cloud. The line began service on November 16, 2009, and 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 (127 km/h). MnDOT previously identified this line as a Tier One Passenger Rail line.
These corridors are generally less than 50 miles (80 km) in length, but could be expanded beyond that distance. Many have either a parallel BRT route or have not been seriously considered for passenger rail traffic.
The Red Rock Corridor is a 30-mile corridor running from Hastings through downtown St. Paul in the counties of Dakota, Washington, and Ramsey. Communities along the corridor include Hastings, Denmark Township, Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, Newport, and St. Paul. Additional stops in downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, Snelling Avenue, Rice Street, Lower Afton Road, Newport were proposed, as was a deferred extension to Red Wing.
The Minneapolis end of the route was initially designated to be at Target Field station, but revised to terminate at Saint Paul Union Depot. An alternative analyses study determined Bus rapid transit to be the preferred alternative for at least part of this segment. MnDOT previously identified this line as a Tier One Passenger Rail line.
The Gateway Corridor parallels Interstate 94 (I-94) between downtown St. Paul and the Eastern Suburbs. Studies, led by the Gateway Corridor Commission, determined BRT to be the preferred alternative for the corridor, and rail is no longer being considered.
The Rush Line is a proposed mass transit link from downtown Saint Paul to Hinckley via White Bear Lake, Forest Lake and Pine City. Commuter rail, bus rapid transit, light rail transit and express bus options were considered for parts of the 80-mile corridor. Studies concluded in 2017, and BRT was selected as the locally preferred alternative. MnDOT previously identified this line as a Tier Two Passenger Rail line.