Upper Midwest Passenger Rail Scene Happenings

December 15, 2024

As we have for many years now, All Aboard Minnesota attended the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commisions annual meeting, which was held at the St. Paul Union Depot in November 2024 Here are some of the highlights from that meeting about what is happening for passenger rail expansion in states around us:

In addition to Minnesota progressing on the Twin Cities to Duluth service (NLX) there is a great deal happening in the states around Minnesota to advance passenger rail. Here are some of the highlights:

  1. Michigan seeks to expand service frequencies on all three of their current state corridor routes, extend service into Canada, establish service in the Detroit - Toledo - Cleveland corridor, add more new equipment, and increase speeds to 110 mph

  2. Wisconsin which wants to extend service from Milwaukee to Green Bay, and Madison, along with a third Twin Cities to Chicago train routed through Eau Claire, and looking to add a second Borealis frequency

  3. Oklahoma which seeks to connect the Heartland Flyer with the Southwest Chief in either Kansas City or Newton

  4. Indiana which wants to increase speed between Indianapolis and Chicago, making the Cardinal long distance train daily, establish daily service between Indianapolis and Chicago, establish service from Indianapolis to Louisville, and is in Step 1 of the Corridor ID program to establish service in the Chicago -Ft. Wayne - Columbus - Pittsburgh corridor

  5. Missouri wants to add additional frequencies to the Missouri River Runner and increase speeds to 110mph from Lincoln

  6. Iowa is in step 1 of the Corridor ID program to establish service from Chicago to the Quad Cities. Plans are to establish two roundtrips daily

Many of these services are planned to be operational by 2027 if all goes well. Lots happening, lets hope many of these plans come to fruition. We will keep you posted.