Twin Cities - Des Moines - Kansas City
A high priority route for All Aboard Minnesota is a new state supported train between the Twin Cities; Des Moines, Iowa; and Kansas City, Missouri – a distance of approximately 500 miles. This route would provide Minnesotans with a needed transportation option along the busy I-35 corridor. It allows for connections in Iowa and Kansas City to the greater Amtrak long-distance network with trains heading to states in the west and southwest. Bus service in this north-south corridor is limited and the non-stop airline service from MSP commands an expensive fare.
A Twin Cities to Kansas City route would serve three large Midwest population centers including Des Moines (pop. 754,000), Kansas City region (pop. 2.2 million), and the Twin Cities region (pop. 3.7 million) in addition to Iowa State University via a Nevada/Ames stop. Stations in Minnesota could include Northfield, Faribault, Albert Lea, and Owatonna. In 2022, All Aboard Minnesota published a detailed route study of this corridor. The study estimated Minnesota ridership on this new service at around 190,000 annually for one roundtrip per day – on par with the Borealis service between Saint Paul and Chicago.
In 2025 and 2026, All Aboard Minnesota began a push to promote the corridor within Minnesota with an outreach and education campaign. The corridor was included in proposed legislation considered in the 2026 session of the Minnesota legislature.
MnDOT’s 2026 Minnesota State Rail Plan acknowledges the potential for this route, though it currently earns a Level 3 priority and a low score given the number of potential steps needed for implementation.
Legislation and Advocacy
Proposed legislation in 2026 directed MnDOT to submit a corridor ID grant application to the Federal Railroad Administration to study two new corridors in Minnesota for additional service, including the Twin Cities to Kansas City corridor. The initial language was in HF3176 and SF2887 and was included in S.F. 3988 – the transportation omnibus bill in the Minnesota Senate. Unfortunately, neither legislative body adopted a transportation omnibus bill in 2026. MnDOT could apply for federal funding to study this corridor even without legislative direction. All Aboard Minnesota is optimistic for the 2027 legislative session.
Possible Timetable and Fleet
AAMN proposes an eight-to-nine-hour schedule including all intermediate stations. The train could depart Saint Paul or Kansas City in the late morning and complete its trip around mid-evening.
The fleet could consist of feature coaches, business class, a café, and baggage service.
Study of the TC to KC route
In 2022, Bob Moen and Brian Nelson from All Aboard Minnesota conducted an extensive route survey on the reinstatement of passenger rail service on this line. They examined the infrastructure of the railroad, analyzed the needs for upgrades, station identification and needs, alternative route analysis, ridership forecasts, and other pertinent considerations. Union Pacific (UP), the owner of the track, has invested significantly in the line. The track infrastructure is in good condition with most of Union Pacific’s Iowa trackage under CTC (Centralized Traffic Control), a redundant signaling system ideal for passenger operations. Several sections along the proposed route have other systems, including ABS (Automatic Block Signals) and TWC (Track Warrant Control). These sections would require an update to CTC.