73 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Twin Cities Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN, 5/14/20:

 

   Second Amtrak train from Twin Cities to Chicago could be less than two years away 

 

 

 

An Amtrak train, the Empire Builder, makes a single daily round-trip through the Twin Cities to Chicago. Transit advocates have long advocated for a second train on the same route, a proposal that could now be within two years of becoming reality.

 

News

[KevinKorell]

Twin Cities Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN, 9/22/20:

 

    Ramsey County commissioner announces $31.8 million federal grant for second Amtrak train  

 

 

 

A proposed second train from St. Paul to Chicago rolled a little closer to reality this week with the approval of a $31.8 million federal grant.

 

 

The story is here, and it's got a few interesting tidbits.    The working name for the new frequency is Great River Rail (a little too generic but obviously homage to the upper Mississippi River that it and the Empire Builder will cross a few times).    As I earlier suspected, it would take over the timeslot of one of the existing Hiawatha Corridor trains in the Chicago-Milwaukee segment, and that would be 333 towards St. Paul and 340 towards Chicago.  I am not sure however if this train would get new numbers since it will go well beyond the Hiawatha Corridor.

[KevinKorell]

Wisconsin News, 9/28/20:

 

   Discussion on expanding Amtrak service planned  

 

 

 

On Wednesday, a gathering of elected officials, Democratic candidates, passenger rail supporters and common citizens will gather in support of expanding Amtrak service in Columbia County. Currently Amtrak serves Columbia County once a day, both directions between Chicago and Minneapolis/St.Paul. That service is slated to be reduced to three times per week starting Oct. 19. Gov. Tony Evers has proposed expanding the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, Chicago service to twice a day each direction.

 

Read this.

[CNJRoss]

Milwaukee Business Journal, 10/1/20
 

Wisconsin-Minnesota Amtrak passenger rail extension backed by $31M federal grant

 

 

A passenger rail project that would add a daily round trip between the Twin Cities, La Crosse, Milwaukee and Chicago on the existing Amtrak Empire Builder route has been selected to receive a $31.8 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration.

 

The Wisconsin-Minnesota Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago (TCMC) service would use tracks on the existing Amtrak Hiawatha route, according to the announcement from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Construction for the rail service is anticipated to begin in 2022, with service starting in 2024. The service increases round-trip service on the 411-mile corridor between the Twin Cities and Chicago to two daily trips, with the new round-trip having a shorter travel time. 

 

SNIP 

 

The cost to build the TCMC service was projected to cost $53 million. The three states and Amtrak need to provide $21.1 million in matching funds in order to accept the award from the FRA. Amtrak has already contributed $5 million.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Railway Gazette, 10/12/20:

 

    Chicago – Minneapolis enhancements funded  

 

 

 

Plans to launch a second daily inter-city service between Chicago and Minneapolis-St Paul are set to move forward following the award of federal funding under the Consolidated Railroad Infrastructure & Safety Improvement grant programme.

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

Streetsblog Chicago, 10/19/20:

 

    Sign of the Times: Chicago-Minneapolis Amtrak service is expanding to twice daily  

 

 

Good news: In the future it’s going to get a little easier for Chicagoans to sample an authentic Twin Cities-style Juicy Lucy.

 

 

More

[KevinKorell]

Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN, 10/27/20:

 

   Bonding bill snub holds up second Amtrak train between St. Paul and Chicago   

 

 

 

A proposed second train between St. Paul and Chicago will be delayed after the Minnesota Legislature declined to provide $10 million in matching funds.

 

Details

[KevinKorell]

rivertowns.net    3/7/21:

 

 

    Touting a second daily train, Great River Rail Commission urged Red Wing to get onboard  

 

 

Paul Drotos, Goodhue County commissioner and vice-chair of the Great River Rail Commission, spoke last week before at the Minnesota Senate Bonding Committee about the proposal of a second daily round-trip passenger train going from the Twin Cities to Chicago.

 

Here is that story.

[jebr]

Winona Daily News - 3/16/2021:

 

 

Miller introduces bill to fund Minnesota’s share of rail infrastructure upgrades

Senate President Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) has introduced a bipartisan bill that would fund the state’s share of a significant overhaul of southeast Minnesota rail infrastructure.

[KevinKorell]

WKBT-TV, Channel 8 in La Crosse, WI, 3/19/21:

 

 

   Comments sought on rail project to add second daily Twin Cities-Chicago round-trip through La Crosse    

 

 

The Wisconsin and Minnesota transportation departments are seeking public input on a proposal to add a second daily round-trip passenger rail route in the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor.

 

Story