Twin Cities - Fargo - Grand Forks - Winnipeg

Population Served

4,880,000

Without Twin Cities

1,385,000

Population Grand Forks to Winnipeg

851,000

Route

There is a daytime market of Canadians traveling down to Grand Forks and Fargo on weekends. Amtrak has proposed a bus connecting with the Empire Builder at Grand Forks to serve Winnipeg. MNDOT should follow up on funding this connection. This could develop into a train in the future that would split off the Empire Builder at Grand Forks. A future separate daytime train between the Twin Cities, Fargo, Grand Forks, Crookston and Winnipeg is also a possibility. BNSF has been making improvements to the line east and north of Grand Forks including modest signaling and new passing sidings due to increased Canadian freight traffic. More will be required for daytime passenger service.