Something to look forward in years to come to if you enjoy heading up to the North Shore. Minnesotans will have a chance to take the Northern Lights Express train to Duluth.
It most likely about five years until you can buy a ticket,” says Northern Lights Express Alliance Chair and Minneapolis City Council Member Andrew Johnson.
The expected cost of a ticket is $30-$35 each way and a trip will take about 2.5 hours which is similar to driving.
Johnson says the train will go 90-miles-per-hour at top speed, and will originate in Minneapolis with stops in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley and Superior, Wisconsin. The trip is 152 miles each way. Amtrak will run the trains using tracks owned by BNSF Railway.
According to Johnson they expect that in the first year 750,000 people will travel on the train, with about one million a year after that. Johnson says riders can decide to pass on dealing with the weather, traffic and construction.
“And instead just be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful Minnesota countryside,” says Johnson.
The Federal Railroad Administration completed an environmental review and approved the service development plan in early 2018.
In May 2023, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $194.7 million for the project. These funds provide the 20% local match needed to pursue federal grants to complete design work, construct the project and purchase locomotives and passenger cars for the service. Federal matching grants are expected to pay for roughly 80% of the project. The total estimated cost for construction is $592.3 million with an estimated annual operating cost of $18.9 million.
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