Passenger Rail in Minnesota

Passenger rail

Passenger rail is an important part of Minnesota’s multimodal transportation system. Passenger trains connect rural and urban areas across Minnesota, the region and nation, increasing mobility, tourism and economic development.

Existing service

Minnesota has three types of passenger rail services:

• Intercity trains connect rural communities and cities across the state, region and nation. Typically, there is one or more round trips per day.
  • The Borealis^SM (Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago)
  • The Empire Builder^SM (Chicago to Seattle and Portland via Minnesota)

• Commuter trains connect suburban areas with core cities. There is frequent service serving people going to work and events in the core city.
  • Northstar Commuter Rail (Big Lake to Minneapolis)

• Heritage and tourist railroads offer relaxing trips through scenic areas.
  • Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad (Duluth to New Duluth, MN)
  • North Shore Scenic Railroad (Duluth to Two Harbors, MN)
  • Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway (Osceola WI, to Dresser, WI and Marine on Saint Croix, MN)

Light rail and streetcars are other forms of rail-based transportation. While both operate on tracks, they are different from passenger rail. Both forms of urban mass transit, similar to transit buses, and their purpose is to move people around large cities.

Current studies

MnDOT is working with partners across the region to study the potential expansion of intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest. This includes potential new corridors as well as increasing service on existing routes. These efforts are guided by the State Rail Plan.

• Twin Cities-Duluth/Superior Corridor/Northern Lights Express (NLX) (new route)
• Twin Cities-Eau Claire Corridor (new route)
  • Project is sponsored by the Chippewa-St. Croix Passenger Rail Commission
• Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Corridor
  • Projects are sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
    • Additional frequency of the Borealis (existing route via La Crosse)
    • New route via Madison and Eau Claire
• Chicago-Seattle Corridor (new route via Minnesota, southern North Dakota and southern Montana)
  • Project is sponsored by Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
• Twin Cities-Fargo/Moorehead Corridor

Current construction projects

• Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Passenger Rail Infrastructure Project