Mayors and legislators in southern Minnesota want the state to study a rail line between Minneapolis or St. Paul and Northfield. But Dakota County officials are hesitant to hop onboard.
Minnesota funding for second train to Chicago thwarted But supporters remain determined to add daily service between St. Paul and the Windy City. November 4, 2020 7:38pm Text size Copy shortlink:
Supporters of a proposed second round-trip train between the Twin Cities and Chicago are determined to advance the project despite failing to win funding at the legislature last month. The second train is by no means dead, said Brian Nelson, president of the passenger rail advocacy group All Aboard Minnesota. We are investigating a whole host of [funding] alternatives.
Earlier this year, the project received a boost when the Federal Railroad Administration awarded it $32 million. But the money comes with the caveat that Minnesota kick in $10 million in matching funds.
Why did Minneapolis tear down its biggest train station?
Minneapolis two train stations met very different fates in the 1970s. March 5, 2021 9:05am Related coverage
Studying abroad in Europe many years ago, Marcus Nielson took note of the central role train stations played in city design there. When he returned to Minneapolis, he realized something was missing. I always kind of wondered why Minneapolis didn t keep a lot of their train infrastructure, Nielson said.
He was aware of the Milwaukee Road Depot, a train station that has been restored downtown, but wanted to know why the city demolished its larger station, the Great Northern Depot. Nielson sought answers from Curious Minnesota, a Star Tribune community reporting project fueled by great reader questions.