Twin Cities - Chicago
Borealis Timetable
Note - This timetable includes the Empire Builder schedule for comparison
Population Served
16,575,000
Without Twin Cities
13,080,000
Route
It was announced my Amtrak on May 1, 2024 that the new 2nd daily Twin Cities to Chicago train will begin service on May 21, 2024. The new train will be called Borealis, and is the result of MnDOT, WisDOT, ILLDOT, Amtrak, and the CPKC Railroad collaboration to make it happen. In May 2023 the Minnesota House and Senate Transportation Conference Committee included $1,833,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $3,238,000 in fiscal year 2025 to match federal aid for capital and operating costs for the 2nd daily Amtrak train in the Transportation bill. This funding was the last remaining item the legislature needed to complete to enable this service.
The Minnesota Legislature provided $10M in the 2021 session to leverage a matching federal grant for infrastucture work along the route. We are very excited that this new train is beginning. This is the first new passenger train in Minnesota since the North Star service between the Twin Cities and Duluth began operation in 1975.
This is the highest travel ridership corridor in the state for rail, air and highway travel. There are approximately 10 million highway trips per year, and the Twin Cities to Chicago corridor is unique amongst midwest routes in that 50% of trips are by car, and 50% of trips are by air ( most midwest corridors, such as Chicago to St. Louis, or Chicago to Detroit, are 80-90% by car).
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has officially selected the current Amtrak route as the designated route for this 2nd train. Currently this route operates at a top speed of 79 mph. We believe this is the best route for conventional speed passenger trains to Chicago. The route currently serves Milwaukee, Columbus (Madison), Wisconsin Dells, La Crosse, Winona and Red Wing on its way to the Twin Cites. We strongly support this route for expanded rail passenger service.
To begin service, the train will feature refurbished Horizon coaches, and either a Horizon Cafe/Business class car or an Amfleet Cafe/Business class car. This second train is an extension of an existing Hiawatha frequency between Chicago and Milwaukee to the Twin Cities. MnDOT was given money to buy into the midwest passenger car pool, so eventually the train will feature the new Siemens cars that are beginning service on several midwest corridor routes.
It makes sense for Minnesota to develop this corridor first, as it represents a huge travel market. Parallel I-94 sees 10 million auto trips each year. There are also no less than five round-trip bus schedules, in addition to 1 million air trips annually. MnDOT studies have shown strong ridership potential.
MnDOT is currently proposing one additional train in each direction from St. Paul to Chicago. We strongly believe that such service should also serve Minneapolis since two thirds of the Twin Cities population lives on that side of the metro. With the Amtrak move into St. Paul Union Depot (SPUD) from Midway Station, we now believe serving Minneapolis is imperative.
Ideally, All Aboard Minnesota believes that a total of four daily round trips between Chicago and the Twin Cities could be supported by ridership and farebox revenue.
There has been much debate about potential routes to Chicago, We believe an alternative route for future High Speed Rail or even a third train in this corridor is on the Union Pacific Railroad via Eau Claire, WI and then south to Madison, WI, and on to Chicago.
The easiest and lowest cost way to develop the current Twin Cities-Chicago corridor with minimal investment is to add a second daytime train on the current Amtrak route at 79 mph on an alternate schedule to the present Amtrak Empire Builder train. We are excited to see this new 2nd train begin!
Watch this video - produced by our partner organization in Wisconsin - Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers - about what this new service could look like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hpM-La5J5E&feature=youtu.be