Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Politics and Government News
Samuel King
St. Paul

Lawmakers discuss proposed passenger rail line between Duluth and Minneapolis

Passengers arrive
Passengers depart the first Amtrak train that arrived at Union Depot in St. Paul in 2014, the first passenger train then in downtown St. Paul since 1971. Another proposal could significantly increase traffic from the station to Duluth.
Matt Sepic | MPR News 2014

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

With the DFL now in control of the Minnesota Senate, supporters of the proposed Northern Lights Express passenger rail service hope it will get the funding it needs to move forward.

The NLX would run between the Twin Cities and the Twin Ports, with stops along the way in Coon Rapids, Cambridge and Hinckley.

The line would be run by Amtrak on rail lines owned by BNSF.

The current bill calls for the state to allocate $99 million in fiscal year 2024, which would make more than $300 million in federal funding available.

Supporters say it is one of the “most shovel-ready” projects to be eligible under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that became law in 2021. More than $16 billion is allocated for intercity rail projects.

“We know that this federal money is going to go to projects across the country, so we say let’s bring it here, let’s bring it to Minnesota and connect all these people along the route,” said Sen. Jennifer McEwen, DFL-Duluth, during a Senate Transportation Committee hearing last week.

A number of business leaders and officials from the corridor also testified during the hearing, touting benefits beyond just transportation.

“If approved, the NLX would provide a cost-effective way to bring tourist and other business opportunities to Hinckley and the rest of our region,” Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin told the committee. "Our hope is that this would stimulate other businesses from retail to industry.”

But during that same hearing, Republicans indicated their opposition to funding the plan will continue. Their concerns include the cost of the project and whether service would be reliable.

Sen. Jeff Howe, R-Rockville, cited the Northstar Line, which cut service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As we go forward and we're starting to look at this, ridership on the commuter rail, that's one of the reasons it's plummeted on the Northstar rail, because it wasn't reliable,” Howe said.

Supporters say there are several differences between the Northstar and the proposed NLX, including plans to clear potential rail bottlenecks that could cause delays for both passenger service and freight. The proposal also includes upgrades to more than 100 crossings.

The allocation will likely be included in budget legislation later this session.