posted
Several years ago, when the Empire Builder didn't run daily, was there a regional train that ran between St. Paul and Chicago on the other days, or all days? If the Empire Builder were to be eliminated (if LD trains were eliminated) do you think a regional between St. Paul and Chicago would be put in place?
Posts: 18 | From: Eagan, MN | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
Since no one with a better memory than mine has responded, I will take a stab at this. I think there was a daily Chicago run when the EB only ran 3 or 4 days a week. Since I live only blocks from the St. Paul depot I should know but I don't.
There used to be a train called the North Star, a 403b financed by the state of Minnesota, that ran from MSP to Duluth in the evening and back in the early morning. I think this single level trainset ran to Chicago on the days the Empire Builder did not run and laid overnight in Duluth. This train was discontinued when MN cut off funds (I think it was only $100,000/year).
It was originally called the Arrowhead in the 70's when it ran to Duluth in the am and came back at night. At that time there was also a North Coast Hiawatha to Seattle that ran about 4 hours ahead of the EB westbound and 5 hours behind the EB eastbound and took a different route to Seattle. So at one time there was twice daily Amtrak service MSP-CHI.
The St.Paul station was built by Amtrak in the 70's and has several tracks, as if expanded service was envisioned. There is always talk of high speed corridor service over this route. One involves high speed rail re-routed thru Rochester, MN that would allow use of their underused airport as an alternative to a 2nd MSP airport.
I would guess daily service MSP to St. Paul would survive if the LD's were abandoned. But if any LD's were to survive, the Empire Builder would be one of the better financial performers.
I once read that the station with the highest average ticket price paid per passenger passing thru was Wolf Point, MT.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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Absolutly, as a matter of fact, when I was in the Milwaukee Amtrak Station, i saw a bulletin about the Midwest rail corridor plan, and there was a piece in it about adding an additional train between CHicago and the twin cities, i dont know why it's like this, same deal w/ cinncinati, I wouldn't benefit from either of these services if they existed but I like to see regional trains outside the NE and Calif.
JP
Posts: 143 | From: Richmond, VA | Registered: Jun 2004
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Back in 1995, when the Empire Builder ran four times weekly, there was indeed a daily train as far as St. Paul-Minneapolis. I assume it was still called the Empire Builder then as it appears as part of the main timetable for said train. The days it ran through to Seattle/Portland were Mo/We/Fr/Sa, arriving back We/Fr/Su/Mo.
Geoff M.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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