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| Passenger rail transportation in Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| Name | Passenger rail transportation in Minnesota |
| Caption | Minneapolis–Saint Paul Union Depot |
| Locale | Minnesota |
| Owner | Minnesota Department of Transportation |
| Operator | Amtrak; Metro Transit; BNSF Railway; Canadian Pacific Kansas City; Twin Cities Air Service; historical operators |
| Transit type | Intercity rail; commuter rail; light rail; streetcar |
| Lines | Empire Builder; Northstar; Blue Line; Green Line; planned projects |
| Website | Minnesota Department of Transportation |
Passenger rail transportation in Minnesota provides intercity, commuter, and urban transit across the state linking the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul with regional centers such as Duluth, Rochester, Moorhead, and Worthington. The system integrates legacy corridors built by railroads such as the Great Northern Railway, Northern Pacific Railway, and Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad with modern services operated by Amtrak and Metro Transit. Governance, funding, and planning involve agencies including the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, and local governments.
Minnesota's passenger rail network encompasses long-distance routes like the Empire Builder, state-supported corridors such as pilot projects endorsed by the Minnesota Legislature, commuter services exemplified by Northstar Line, and urban light rail systems operated by Metro Transit. Historic facilities including the Minneapolis–Saint Paul Union Depot anchor intermodal connections with intercity buses like Greyhound Lines and regional bus providers. Key freight owners like BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City control right-of-way affecting scheduling, while federal entities such as the Federal Railroad Administration and Surface Transportation Board influence safety and trackage rights.
Passenger rail in Minnesota traces to 19th-century charters granting franchises to companies such as the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and Winona and St. Peter Railroad, later consolidated into the Great Northern and Milwaukee Road. The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad and Chicago and North Western Transportation Company expanded networks to Duluth and Fargo. The 20th century saw flagship trains like the Empire Builder and North Coast Limited; post-1971 reorganization led to creation of Amtrak and federal initiatives such as the Rail Passenger Service Act shaping services. Urban transit evolved from the Twin City Rapid Transit Company streetcar era through mid-century abandonment to late-20th-century revival with projects involving the Metropolitan Council and state funding measures. Recent decades saw station restorations at the Union Depot and deployment of the Hiawatha Line and Central Corridor projects.
Intercity service centers on Amtrak's long-distance Empire Builder connecting Chicago with Seattle and Portland via Saint Paul and Minneapolis. State-supported initiatives include studies for corridors linking Minneapolis to Rochester, Duluth, and Mankato with stakeholders like the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Minnesota Funding Partners. Historic proposals reference corridors once served by the North Coast Limited and revived alignments under consideration by the Federal Railroad Administration for higher-speed service. Rail advocacy groups such as Northern Lights Express Coalition and research from institutions like the University of Minnesota influence corridor planning, while national bodies including the United States Department of Transportation provide grant opportunities.
Regional and commuter rail efforts include the operational Northstar Line managed by Metro Transit connecting Minneapolis with Big Lake and municipalities across Hennepin County and Sherburne County. Feasibility studies have examined extensions to St. Cloud, Cambridge, and St. Joseph with funding considerations from the Minnesota Legislature and coordination with freight owners BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City. Past commuter proposals involve corridors with rights-of-way formerly held by the CB&Q and Rock Island Line, evaluated by agencies including the Federal Transit Administration.
Urban rail includes the Blue Line and Green Line light rail routes in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, established through partnerships among Metro Transit, the Metropolitan Council, and project contractors including HNTB Corporation and engineering firms. Historic streetcar networks operated by the Twin City Rapid Transit Company shaped early urban development; modern streetcar projects and bus rapid transit studies cite examples from the Portland Streetcar and consultants such as Parsons Corporation. Stations like Target Field station and U.S. Bank Stadium station integrate with regional transit and events hosted by entities like the Minnesota Vikings.
Track and signaling infrastructure involve freight owners BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, dispatching centers, and joint-use agreements overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration and Surface Transportation Board. Maintenance facilities include yards in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and regional terminals tied to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via transit connectors. Equipment for passenger operations ranges from Siemens Mobility light rail vehicles to Amtrak's long-distance rolling stock and has been procured under contracts involving firms like Stadler Rail and Bombardier Transportation. Safety programs reference regulations from the National Transportation Safety Board and standards from the American Public Transportation Association.
Future planning engages the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, local counties, and advocacy groups such as the Minnesota Rail Museum and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Funding sources include state appropriations enacted by the Minnesota Legislature, federal grants from the United States Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration, and public-private partnerships with freight partners like BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City. Planned projects under study include extensions of the Northstar Line, frequency improvements to Empire Builder service, proposed corridors to Duluth under the Northern Lights Express Coalition, and urban expansions drawing on federal programs such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and grant programs administered by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Category:Rail transportation in Minnesota