Ride Amtrak Borealis Trains starting Tuesday, May 21

Ride Amtrak Borealis Trains starting Tuesday, May 21

The Great River Rail Commission is excited to share details for Amtrak Borealis trains that will begin daily, round-trip service on May 21 and run from Union Depot in Saint Paul to Union Station in Chicago, doubling the capacity for rail travel between the two cities. Amtrak Borealis trains will make additional Minnesota-area stops in Red Wing, Winona, and La Crosse.

Events being planned

Throughout the planning process, business leaders at each stop have been collaborating on advocacy and promotion of the new service, culminating in celebratory rides on May 21, as well as commemorative events at each stop. The inaugural event in Saint Paul will be held in the Union Depot Waiting Room and affords participants the opportunity to explore the train cars, as well as hear remarks from Federal and State dignitaries.

Learn more, buy tickets

Read Amtrak’s media release for further details about the service and ticket information.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Reaction from the Great River Rail Commission

Statement from Ramsey County Commissioner Trista Martinson, chair of the Great River Rail Commission 

“We are delighted by the announcement that Amtrak Borealis trains will start running on May 21. Borealis will double the opportunity for passenger rail transportation between the Twin Cities and Chicago, providing another safe, reliable, relaxing, affordable climate friendly alternative to driving or flying. Our communities along the Mississippi River Route will benefit from job creation and economic development, and the trains will bring college students, event attendees and tourists to Minnesota. It’s hard not to be excited about an environmentally sound means of travel that provides an accessible travel alternative in areas that are dependent on automobile transport. We would like to thank those who have supported these efforts and encourage everyone to give Borealis trains a try.”

Statement from Winona County Commissioner Chris Meyer, vice chair of the Great River Rail Commission (not speaking for the Winona County Board)

“Support for expanded passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and Chicago has been led for many years by advocates from the Winona area. The first chair of what is now the Great River Rail Commission was Jerry Miller. Our legislators, especially Sen. Jeremy Miller and Rep. Gene Pelowski, were instrumental in securing funding for the train, as were many others. And many, many residents, business leaders and local elected officials from Winona and throughout southeastern Minnesota spent countless hours providing information about the benefits of passenger rail to anyone who would listen. It is so gratifying to learn that the hard work and passion of so many has finally led us to the beginning of Amtrak Borealis trains. I am personally looking forward to many trips to the many great destinations this train will serve, and I am looking forward to seeing many visitors from throughout the corridor taking in the many events and opportunities that this part of Minnesota has to offer.” 

More information

Amtrak Borealis trains will consist of four Horizon class passenger cars with one cafe car and a locomotive. The Great River Rail Commission’s website will soon feature more information about the service, including amenities, ticket prices, destinations and more. 

About the Great River Rail Commission

The Great River Rail Commission is made up of elected officials representing 18 local and regional governments from Saint Paul to La Crosse, who advocate for safer, more frequent passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and Chicago. 

Amendments Approved – Second Train Launch Date Closer

The Second Train moved one step closer to becoming a reality on March 19 with approval of

agreements between Ramsey County and Amtrak. During its regular meeting, the Ramsey

County Regional Railroad Authority (RCRRA) voted unanimously to approve amendments to

the operating and lease agreements with Amtrak that will allow the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-

Chicago Second Train to serve Union Depot in Saint Paul.

The amended agreements provide for the overnight storage of one train at Union Depot, use of an expanded area of the terminal tracks, and use of ancillary space and services with expanded use of Union Depot. While Amtrak passenger train service is still the priority, the amended agreements allow for easier access by special trains and other non-Amtrak service.

Approval of these amended agreements between the RCRRA and Amtrak is an important step toward implementation of the additional round-trip service between Saint Paul and Chicago.

This service expansion involves partnership agreements among the Federal Railroad

Administration, the state departments of transportation, the host railroad, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, and Amtrak. These agreements are in progress and finalization was dependent on completion of the agreements between the RCRRA and Amtrak.

A service announcement is expected this spring. The schedules, fares, start date and official

name of the train service will be jointly announced when all the agreements have been finalized between the parties.

More Passenger Rail Coming to Minnesota?

The Federal Railroad Administration announced in December that it awarded $8.2 billion for passenger-rail projects nationwide, as well as passenger-rail corridor planning activities that will impact Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago (TCMC) rail service and begin exploration of additional service that could benefit Minnesotans.

Among the projects receiving funding through the federal-state program was an investment in Chicago Union Station, an initial step toward future improvements to the critical Midwest corridors hub, and the eastern terminus for the Amtrak Empire Builder and future TCMC Second Train. 

Notably, Minnesota residents could benefit from additional passenger rail service that were approved for funding of planning studies. The FRA announced 69 passenger-rail corridor selections across 44 states through the new Corridor Identification and Development Program.  Neighboring Wisconsin received funding to develop another train on the TCMC route, as well as funding to study a route from Eau Claire to the Twin Cities, linking the city to others along the line to TCMC services in St. Paul. The program was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021. The selections were awarded up to $500,000 for further study and planning activities.

The Corridor ID program aims to drive future passenger-rail expansion. The FRA will work with states, transportation agencies, host and operating railroads , and local governments to develop and build passenger-rail projects "faster than before," officials said.

The  IIJA "gave us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to think smart and think big about the future of rail in America, and we are taking full advantage of the resources we have to advance world-class passenger rail services nationwide," said FRA Administrator Amit Bose.

The announced funding is in addition to the $16.4 billion investment that President Biden announced last month for 25 projects to improve passenger-rail infrastructure and service along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.