All Aboard Minnesota members and friends are invited to the annual fall membership meeting of the Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers, on Saturday, Oct 23. You can either attend in person, or via zoom registration link below. Dan Krom from MnDOT and Arun Rao from WisDOT will give updates about Minnesota and Wisconsin passenger rail projects. Zoom registration link directly below, and full agenda with location and other details is posted below the registration announcement.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkc-iqrDIiGdJMyJpTO00C-TXvs6p18bwa

*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Click here for the full agenda and other details

Governor Walz signed the Minnesota Transportation budget on Saturday June 26, which includes a $10M state appropriation to fund what we are calling, the Twin Cities Hiawatha- 2nd Train frequency between the Twin Cities and Chicago. This is a major win for us and all Minnesotans! The state appropriation will leverage a $32M federal grant for infrastructure work in Minnesota to enable the 2nd Train and provide the first step in realizing the MnDOT Passenger Rail Plan.

Again, We want to thank all of our members, friends, supporters, affiliated organizations and colleagues who contacted the Governor and their legislators to make this happen.

This would not have been possible without your active support!

So, what are the next steps and when will the train actually run? The first step is to put the process in motion to actually receive the grants which will happen this fall. The next and most major step is to then hire contractors to complete the infrastructure work which in Minnesota is largely in Winona and La Crescent. This infrastructure work is expected to take approximately two years. The final step will be to procure equipment, locomotives and coaches. There is a video posted in the Our Vision, Twin Cities to Chicago page of what the new train could look like. The Twin Cities Hiawatha is scheduled to begin service sometime in 2024. We will keep you posted as the project develops.

We issued a press release on June 26, which you can read in our News and Media section, Press Releases. There was good coverage in the Twin Cities and even the Fargo Forum published an article!

The StarTribune published an article about the 2nd train. Read it here: https://www.startribune.com/it-s-a-go-for-second-daily-train-to-chicago-from-st-paul/600072980/

The Minnesota House and the Senate have passed the bi-partisan Omnibus Transportation bill that includes money for the 2nd train between the Twin Cities and Chicago. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature. We understand that the Governor is supportive of the bill and will sign it shortly.

This means that the state appropriated $10M for the 2nd train which will leverage a $32M federal grant to complete track and signal work in Minnesota to enable the 2nd train. This work will also greatly enhance freight rail operations by reducing bottlenecks in Winona and La Crescent especially. This infrastruture work is expected to take approximately two to three years, and the 2nd train could begin rolling by 2023-24! Wisconsin and Amtrak have already committed funds for the 2nd train. The bill also included $500k for the MnDOT State Rail Passenger office.

This is a major win for passenger rail supporters throughout Minnesota and the upper-midwest, and it could pave the way for more passenger rail route expansion in the region. All Aboard Minnesota holds the view that the 2nd train will be successful right out of the gate, and will garner support for other routes, such as extending the 2nd train to Fargo/Moorhead for example.

As mentioned, this is truly a bi-partisan bill, and there was tremendous support from both parties. Transportation Committee Chairs Frank Hornstein and Senator Scott Newman were both praised for their leadership and compromise to make this bill happen. All Aboard Minnesota praises the State Legislature on getting this bill passed.

1. For Minnesota specifically - $10M is now included in the House Omnibus Transportation bill - the operating fund - for the 2nd Train. It passed the House Ways and Means Committee on Saturday June 19, 2021. This is a major development as initially only $3M was included in this bill. Rep Gene Pewlowski and Senator Jerry Miller in Winona expressed optimisim that the funding will pass. The bill now goes to the Senate - we will keep you posted. We thought our main chance for funding the 2nd train would be in the bonding bill. The legislature needs to approve the budget by June 30 to avoid a government shutdown.

2. Amtrak is refurbishing the Superliner fleet and restoring traditional dining car service on Western trains. All Superliner 1, and 2 series will get refreshed interiors, seats, carpets, drapes, etc. and the entire program is expected to take approximately three years. Freshly prepared meals along with new menus will appear on Western trains June 23, 2021. The program will extend to Eastern long hauls within three to four months according to Amtrak. Both programs are very long overdue. Per a ride on the Southwest Chief this month, which had a mixture of Superliner 1, and 2 equipment, all cars were extremely tired and worn out looking. Click here to read more and view pictures of the refurbished equipment:https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/6/15/22533534/amtrak-upgrades-long-distance-trains-union-station-dining-cars-sleepers

3. US Senate committee approves bipartisan $78 billion rail and transportation safety bill. The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bipartisan $78 billion transportation funding bill on Wednesday designed to boost the competitiveness of the nation’s freight networks, improve its passenger rail system and make highways safer. The five-year bill includes $25 billion for passenger rail, mostly as grants to Amtrak. Click here to read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/06/16/senate-road-rail-transportation-bill/

More Minnesota cities are realizing the economic and mobility benefits that more rail passenger service can provide their residents. The Wadena City Council just passed a resolution asking the legislature to fund a second train frequency between the Twin Cities and Chicago, recognizing that the second train could be extended from the Twin Cities to Fargo/Moorhead, with a stop in Wadena. Amtrak's Empire Builder currently utilizes this route, but does not stop in Wadena currently and comes through late at night westbound and in the early morning hours eastbound. The closest stop to Wadena is Staples, MN. The last passenger train to stop in Wadena was Burlington Northern's Mainstreeter (before the BN merger, the Mainstreeter was a Northern Pacific passenger train that served this route on a daytime schedule. Full route of this train was St. Paul to Seattle), on May 1, 1971, the day Amtrak took over. The Mainstreeter was not retained by Amtrak.

St. Paul, Red Wing, Winona and La Crescent have all recently passed resolutions asking the Minnesota Legislature to fund the second train. All Aboard Minnesota just recently announced this with a Press Release. The Press Release is posted in our sites About/News and Media/Press Release section.

The Wadena Pioneer Journal covered this story. Click Here to read the article

On March 23, All Aboard Minnesota provided "testimony" for one of Rep Alice Hausman's bills to provide the state match for the 2nd Train frequency between the Twin Cities and Chicago. During that hearing, several questions came up about the on going operating subsidy for this train, such as "How will we pay for it if costs increase in the future?" All Aboard Minnesota provided more information about the operating subsidy, how the 2nd train project will ultimately pay for itself, and more context about how other "corridor" services are performing. Please feel free to use any of this content, including the attached document below on Midwest Passenger Rail Corridor development. You can read our response below:

During the House Transportation Committee meeting on March 23 regarding the 2nd Train and NLX, questions were raised about the operating subsidy and the ongoing support of such subsidies. Below is information on these topics:

1. A Benefit-Cost Analysis prepared for the proposed 2nd Train Frequency (2nd Train) between the Twin Cities and Chicago Project and included in the FRA- CRISI Grant Application for the Federal Matching Funds, showed that over a 30 year period the 2nd train project would more than pay for itself with all capital, maintenance and operating costs included. There would be a net benefit to the state of $63M over this time period. (This does not include the economic impact associated with wages related to jobs created, money spent by Amtrak in Minnesota to operate the service or the increased economic activity associated with increased ridership, including additional tourism expenditures.)
2. The 2nd Train service will be coordinated with the existing Amtrak Hiawatha service connecting Chicago and Milwaukee. Ridership on the Hiawatha service has doubled since 2003, and has increased 9% since 2014. (Source – WisDOT).
3. The Hiawatha service in 2019 had an 85% farebox cost recovery. (Source – WisDOT). Operating subsidies have decreased over time for this service due to increasing ridership. This is a lower subsidy than most road projects which are subsidized with state and federal general funds and property taxes. Other corridors have seen similar results such as North Carolina, and Virginia.
4. There are cost savings provided by the 2nd train vs expanding other modes: cost avoidance from highway maintenance, environmental, safety, upkeep to other modes, improved freight performance, and revenue from local investment and tourism, as an offset to annual operating subsidies. Please consider these specific benefits:

1. 1. The 2nd Train will reduce car miles in the corridor by 15M, reducing highway maintenance costs by $32M – (Source Rail Passengers Association (RPA) Study)
   2. The proposed 2nd Train frequency between the Twin Cities and Chicago alone would generate economic returns eight to ten times for Minnesota’s spending on the service (total economic benefit of $25M, cost $2-3M, estimated-(Source RPA Study)
   3. Taking a train versus a car reduces carbon emissions by 80% - (Source - OurWorldinData.org)
   4. Many states in the Mid-West are investing in rail passenger corridors as they see the economic and mobility benefits. See attached document for specifics (written by an All Aboard Minnesota (AAMN) member and compiled from MIPRC and industry publications.)

Summary -

A $10 million state match for the 2nd train will leverage a $32 million federal capital grant and a $12.5 million operating grant. This is a return of $4 for each state dollar invested. This federal funding for intercity rail (which also benefits freight rail) is not transferable or available for road projects. There is no significant competitive federal grant program for road projects.

Updated April 9 (authors added, Senate Companion files, etc.)- Here is a summary of the Minnesota House bills and companion bills in the Minnesota Senate to fund more passenger rail. If you have any questions on these bills please contact us. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Please call the Governorn and your legislators; ask them to support these bills. With just one of the $10M bills enacted, the 2nd Proposed Train Frequency between the Twin Cities and Chicago could begin rolling in about two years. We have just posted a video about this new train in our "Proposed Routes" section - Twin Cities Chicago. There is more legislation this year than in past years. We are really encouraged by all of this legislation!

Here are the bills currently under review in the Minnesota Legislature:

1. House File (HF) 1639: Description - $160M in bond funds to appropriated to execute the MnDOT State Rail Passenger Plan - Author Rep Alice Hausman, Reps Todd Lippert, Gene Pelowski:

1a. Senate Companion File (SF 1962) Author - Senators Jeremy Miller, Sandy Pappas, and Michael Goggin

2. HF 1638: Description - Move property taxes currently paid by freight railroads into the general fund to a dedicated rail fund for freight and passenger rail funding - Author Rep. Alice Hausman: No Senate comanion bill as of early March 2021

3. HF 1637: Description - $10M appropriated from the general fund (cash) to fund infrastructure improvements for the 2nd Proposed Daily Passenger Train frequency between the Twin Cities and Chicago - Author Rep. Alice Hausman, Rep Gene Pelowski: No Senate companion bill as of early March 2021

4. HF 1251: Description - $10M appropriated from Bond Funds (designed to be part of the 2021 Bonding Bill and also in the Governors Bonding Bill proposal for 2021) to fund infrastructure improvements for the 2nd Proposed Dail Passenger Train frequency between between the Twin Cities and Chicago- Author Rep Alice Hausman, Frank Hornstein - Chair House Transportation Committee, Todd Lippert, Gene Pelowski: Senate Companion File - none as of early March 2021 but we understand Senator Jeremy Miller and possibly a couple other Senators will co-sponsor this bill.

5. HF 1109: Description - $4M in bond funds appropriated for engineering of high speed rail service from the Twin Cities to Duluth - Author Mary Murphy: Senate Companion File - 1624: Authors - Senators Jennifer McEwen, Ann Johnson-Stewart, Jerry Newton

6. HF 2269 This is the Omnibus Bonding bill which contains all of the projects in the proposed 2021 Bonding Bill; there is $10M appropriated in this bill for the 2nd daily proposed train between the Twin Cities and Chicago. As of the end of March there is no Senate companion bill.

7. HF 1393 - Here is the text of the bill as introduced - $500,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of transportation for a feasibility study and alternatives analysis of a passenger rail corridor connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul to Albert Lea on existing rail line and passing through Faribault and Northfield and auxiliary east-west passenger rail service connecting Mankato and Winona on existing rail line and passing through Owatonna and Rochester. Authors - Todd Lippert (Northfield) and Alice Hausman. Senate Companion File - SF 2365, Author Senator Sandy Pappas

Amtrak announced in a press release today that because of Covid relief funding, just passed today by US Congress, the Empire Builder will be restored to daily service on May 24. All other long distance trains that went to tri-weekly service last fall will be restored to daily service by June 7, 2021.

Additionally, along with the resumption of daily service, Trains Newswire was quoted regarding dining car service:

"Amtrak plans to restore “traditional” dining car meals with the daily frequencies, Harris says, “but we’re not quite sure yet how to work through the health implications. Communal dining is probably a non-starter for now, and you can work backward through food preparation and delivery.”

He says Amtrak’s new head of customer service, Robert Jordan, “is very interested in the topic and is going through the process of inviting employee input to make it better.”

Here is Amtrak's press release with the full schedule of long distance trains reinstatement to daily service;

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2021
With Increased Demand and Congressional Funding, Amtrak Restores 12 Long Distance Routes to Daily Service
Slated to debut this summer, new schedules offer the most departures since June 2020
WASHINGTON – As part of its COVID-19 recovery efforts, Amtrak announces full restoration of daily service for 12 long distance routes following pandemic-related schedule reductions in 2020. Providing customers significantly more departures for the upcoming summer travel season, the new schedule has been updated on all Amtrak reservation systems, including Amtrak.com and the Amtrak app.

Due to COVID relief funding, Amtrak will sustain and restore operations and recall the more than 1,200 furloughed employees through the remainder of FY21 and into FY22. The funding is pending President Biden’s signature on the final bill.

“Offering daily long distance service represents a vital step in our road to recovery,” said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn. “Recognizing the immense value of our employees, we’d like to thank Congress for enabling service restoration and helping us recall furloughed employees.”

The daily schedules will commence in May 2021 and be grouped into three phases:

The Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee will be conducting a hearing on Tuesday Feb 23, at 8:30am about the possible expansion of passenger rail in Minnesota. All Aboard Minnesota has been invited to testify. Our presentation will be centered around the economic, mobility, and environmental benefits of the 2nd Train Frequency from the Twin Cities to Chicago. As we have stated many times before, we believe this route has tremendous propensity for success, and we are laser focused on enabling this service. Once this service is running, we believe its success will prove passenger rail is a viable option and other routes can be added, such as service to Duluth, Des Moines, and extending the 2nd train to Fargo/Moorhead. Several of our partners will testify as well including Amtrak, Great River Rail Commission, Northern Lights Express, and others. Please join us! You can view and listen to the hearing through the MN House Live TV channel (page is updated daily, just tune in on Tuesday morning) Click here: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/live/2