Amtrak Borealis Exceeds Expectations

The Amtrak Borealis line is exceeding expectations. Within its first year of operation, it saw over 205,000 passengers, more than 70,000 riders than originally projected. During its first month of operation in May 2024, the intercity route saw almost 600 riders per day. The 7.5-hour route connects downtown St. Paul to downtown Chicago, with stops in Winona, La Crosse, and Milwaukee. Tickets are available from $40 to over $100 (depending on distance traveled) with discounts for seniors, students, and children under the age of 12.

The success of the Borealis line and another Midwest route, the Empire Builder (which connects Chicago to the Pacific Northwest), demonstrates a growing demand for rail travel options in the region. Advocacy groups are calling for rail line extensions to St. Cloud and the Fargo-Moorhead area, as well as an additional route connecting the Twin Cities to Kansas City.

Last year, Amtrak set an all-time ridership record, serving almost 33 million passengers nationally. It also invested $4.5 billion in various infrastructure and fleet projects. The rail company anticipates additional expansions and projects in the years to come. And with the recent success of the Borealis and Empire Builder routes, it seems that passengers and travelers are all aboard for rail.