Minnesota High Speed Train to Popular Destination Closer to Reality

Minnesota is one major step closer to a high speed train. High speed trains are things that we should have more of in general across the country but I'm very excited to have one come even closer to reality in Minnesota.

In case you weren't aware of this proposed high speed train, the proposal was put together by MnDOT and it would run between Minneapolis and Duluth.

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The train would run at 90 miles an hour and will also make stops between Minneapolis and Duluth in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley, and Superior, WI. With the speed and the stops, it would take about 2.5 hours to travel between Minneapolis and Duluth on the train.

Four round-trips would be made each day and the trains would be operated on tracks owned by BNSF Railway.

They're guessing that the cost of a one-way ticket on the train would be between $30 and $35. Of course, we won't know for sure the cost until all of the construction is done, which, by the way, hasn't started yet.

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All of the plans for the high speed train are still in talks as they wait for the needed funding. However, a big step forward was taken just recently.

One Major Step Forward to a High Speed Train Between Minneapolis and Duluth

This high speed train, which would be called the Northern Lights Express (NLX), took one big step forward according to a press release from MnDOT that came on Friday the 8th.

They announced that they "received $500,000 in federal funds to advance the planning of the Northern Lights Express (NLX) passenger rail project. The federal grant provides funds to begin preliminary work on the project".

(Below is a high speed train in Berlin, Germany.)

The project has also received funding from the state and a grant from the Corridor Identification and Development Program. Plus there's another grant they applied for that they should hear a decision on before the end of the year.

A high speed train between Minneapolis and Duluth would be amazing and a big step forward in developing more high speed trains. Now we need to get to work on proposing one between Minneapolis and Rochester!