ST. PAUL, Minn. — Efforts to advance proposed Amtrak service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth-Superior will have to wait another year after the Minnesota legislature failed to address a bill which included funding for the proposed Northern Lights Express.
The proposed $550 million cost of starting the service, including adding capacity to BNSF’s main line, was part of an off-year bonding bill that was never taken up in a special legislative session, the Duluth News Tribune reports. Without state funding, the state cannot apply for the federal funds expected to pay for the majority of the project.
Proponents of the service met with state and Amtrak officials earlier this year, with Amtrak indicating its support for the proposal. [See “Supporters, Amtrak officials strike positive note after meetings on Duluth-Twin Cities train,” Trains News Wire, March 12, 2019.]
The proposal would restore Amtrak service to Duluth-Superior that ended in 1985 with the discontinuance of the North Star.
