CHICAGO — Amtrak will launch a second daily train between Chicago and St. Paul, Minn., the state-sponsored Borealis, on May 21, the passenger operator announced today.
The train, using Horizon coaches and a café car, will offer Business Class service. It will substitute for one of the current Hiawatha round trips on the Chicago-Milwaukee portion of its trip, and will stop in all cities served by the Empire Builder between Chicago and St. Paul. Tickets are now on sale on the Amtrak website.
The westbound Borealis, train No. 1333, is slated to depart Chicago at 11:05 a.m., arriving in St. Paul at 6:39 p.m. Its eastbound counterpart, train No. 1340, departs St. Paul at 11:50 a.m. and arrives in Chicago at 7:14 p.m. Full schedules are below. Full-route coach fares start at $41, with Business Class starting at $98.
The service is sponsored by the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
“We appreciate our partnerships with communities, federal, state and local governments, host railroad CPKC, and Amtrak that were needed to get this service on track, and to provide another safe, reliable transportation option,” Nancy Daudenberger, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, said in a press release. “We look forward to continuing these partnerships as we work toward further building out passenger rail options in the Midwest.”
Said Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson, “This expansion is thanks to the work WisDOT was able to do together with Minnesota, Illinois and Amtrak, as well as the opportunities provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We will continue to work with federal and state partners to explore more passenger rail options in Wisconsin.”
Borealis refers to not only the Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights), but also refers to the Greek name for the north wind.
Borealis sounds like a beautiful name for this train.
Borealis is a horrible name. It should be the Morning Hiawatha.
I agree. Refer to my previous pots about the history of the name “Hiawatha”.
Oops. I meant to say previous post, not “pots”.
Back in April, 21, 2024, in the South Dakota-Amtrak Trains article, l suggested that Amtrak should look into a continuous, meaningful, and hopefully profitable route from Chicago-Milwaukee-St Paul, to and through through South Dakota to Denver and on to Albuquerque, Las Cruces, El Paso, and maybe even some day Mexico City.
This Chicago-St. Paul Amtrak initiative helps connect all those suggested “dots”. And some other poster(s) suggested a faster route through South Dakota. As they say in the Toyota TV ads, “Let’s go places.”
With the new eastbound train operating only 2-1/2 to 3 hours ahead of the often-delayed “Empire Builder” (at least during winter), I wonder how many days the two trains will be operating on each other’s heels? As regards the name, why not “400”? And I wonder if there isn’t a demand for full dining service on a day train of +-6 hours’ duration?
I like the timing of the Borealis from CHI-MSP.
I could leave Chicago at lunch time and bring my meal onboard. Then catch a Twins series up at the New Rollerdome, (that is if they run on time) and grab dinner.
To come back a couple of days later, catch some b’fast and roll in CUS at 4:45PM. Just in time to grab the CTA Elevated to 35th Street and catch the Sox.
In case Mr. Landey asks, yes I have used Amtrak to see the Brewers. But the roof leaked so badly during a t-storm, we haven’t been back.
As one with fond memories of the Hiawatha service Chicago-Columbus, I look forward to a ride, Superdome or Skytop missing.
What an incredible collection of whiners, complainers, back-seat drivers and sidewalk superintendents!!! A fine collection of silly, marginally intelligent nattering nabobs of negativism!!!
First, we got all three states to work together to fund and develop the train, which is no small accomplishment.
Secondly, how many decades has it been since we have had multiple schedules on this route. We now have a second daily train.
Remember that in 1971 no one thought Amtrak would last more than a decade at most. But the naysayers and critics have been proven wrong no thanks to most of the people writing in this blog.
Yes, lots of whining here. And why?
1. We have a second train between St. Paul and Chicago. It has great late afternoon connects to points east and south.
2. The name is more recognizable to the public than the Empire Builder – or how about the Saluki?
3. Amtrak is running this train now instead of $800 million and 10 years later because they cut a deal with CPKC to agree to the merger in return for some trains, with no capital costs.
4. Wouldn’t it be nice to have new superliners with full dining and parlor car service? They aren’t available, and Horizons are.
5. I’m happy to finally have a reliable day train to Chicago.
One who was involved in the creation of Amtrak told me that it was assumed from the start that what is today’s NEC would most likely exist, even in a better state that today. Much of the overall national system was expected to be eventually phased out via a trail and error process as did happen with some of the earlier routes.
He told me that he and others believed the US would become a leader in regards to future high-speed rail between major cities. So they totally missed on that one.
Other things they did not foresee at the time, based on what he told me, were the major impacts resulting from the later deregulation of the freight RR’s including the major reduction of track capacity; all the mergers that led to today’s 6 Class 1 freight carriers and that CN & CP would become major players in the US; today’s importance of hedge funds; and one of the primary reasons–the development of discount airlines that allowed far, far, far more people to be able to afford to fly. Note: at the time of Amtrak’s establishment, they believed long-distance bus service would continue to be passenger rail’s primary competition and it would still be there to serve the public where Amtrak couldn’t make it.
Hear hear!
I’m glad I’m not the only one. So many people here never have anything positive to say about anything. It’s bizarre.
So many people afraid that those kids are on their lawns!
Sadly, my prior comments here-and elsewhere-were borne out to be pathetically true.
Given the schedule of the “Baby Builder,” apparently, Amtrak’s ex-airline corporate management are still on their slow learning curve, unless Amtrak has totally given up on route specific traffic. In comparison, at least the Burlington understood and defined the popularity of their “Twin Cities Zephyrs” with fast, expeditious running times; favorable scheduling of well spaced morning and afternoon service; full dining, club, and parlor services. Unlike the “400” and “Hiawatha” operations, the “Zephyrs” were scheduled to accomplish an envious same day turnaround back to their originating city (CHI/MSP)-competently providing asset utilization and significant cost savings.
Given Amtrak’s definition of “cafe car,” how will this service be staffed; will there be re-provisioning during the forced layover in St. Paul; how does Amtrak define regional foods to feature; how many cafe tables will be reserved for “crew only?” Was this a missed opportunity to emulate the “Downeaster’s” private cafe food/beverage operation?
Knowing the back-breaking feature of Horizon cars, as well as the winter tendency (i.e., guarantee) for frozen pipes and out-of-order bathrooms, what was the rationale for not using re-modeled Amfleet, especially in respect to this longer route?
The pathetic name for this new service stands on its own. Even “North Star” would have been a move in the right direction.
Do the states involved have the credentials to take the lead for Amtrak to still negotiate with CP for faster running time; possible turn around schedule from St. Paul?
It will miss the majority of early evening departures from Chicago with the exception of the Lake Shore. It will be well suited to those morning arrivals from the east you wouldn’t have as long a layover. Best scenario would be to adopt the schedule of the former Northstar that ran as a night train leaving St Paul around 10:30 pm & arrived in CHI around 7 am with benefit of having a full days departures from CHI of course the night schedule would require sleepers. Well no need to fret if the political winds shift in MN this train in any way, shape or form will be gone like a cool breeze on a hot summer day!
It’s good to hear the train will finally start after all the talk. But that name – really now. Twin Cities Hiawatha or Great River Hiawatha would be much better. Borealis sounds like an ailment of some kind. Or does the PC/woke crowd not approve? Historic facts are that local Chicago-Milwaukee trains on Milwaukee Road were not called “Hiawatha”. Some were nameless, at least in later years. I remember one being called “The Traveler.” The legend of Hiawatha supposedly takes place along the Mississippi River.
Also, why no stop (after all these years) in the heavily-populated western Milwaukee suburbs? I am told Pewaukee wants a station and this would be handy for people from Waukesha and Washington County.
The Milwaukee Road had a surprisingly strong market and service along this route. But they also had another pair of trains during the day. The Morning Hiawatha made a few more stops (such as county seats of Mauston and Sparta in Wisconsin) and a few more in Minnesota (such as Wabasha) while the
Afternoon Hiawatha ran faster with fewer stops. Consider historic precedent and respectfully consider how the “old folks” did things.
The Milwaukee Road was poor but proud and did their best against tough circumstances. They were able to keep a lot of service on this line up to Amtrak startup. Remember they had to work with five-man crews (by law), short crew districts and fuel-inefficient locomotives. Today’s cost structure is much more favorable.
So how about honoring all the good people of the Milwaukee Road by giving the train a sensible and relevant name? I would also suggest extending the train to Superior and Duluth on an experimental basis and don’t insist on 90 MPH speeds from the start. The schedule looks like an good one for a Twin Ports resident who wants to spend an afternoon in the Twin Cities.
As for equipment, those tiny windows on those Horizon cars don’t allow the scenic potential of the route (especially along the Mississippi) to be realized.
Consider leasing some spare Metra coaches with bigger windows and some upstairs seats for those who want them. If the commuter seating could be changed out for more spacious seats, this could work like it did for C&NW in 1958. The bi-level “400” train coaches were commuter coaches with 96 intercity seats vs. about 155 small seats in a commuter coach. Lower-level pass-through would allow a single-level food car to run in the train – preferably at the front or back end..
You’re assuming that Amtrak pulled this schedule out of thin air. I would assume that CPKC hd some input and had this window open on the route.
As for the name, well that is stupid, or perhaps it was pulled from thin air.
Some of the dumbest ideas anywhere. Since they are running so close to 7/8, just put the people on 7/8 and save the expense. Run 7/8 a little earlier. And the name???? Some woker must have though of this one. Good God!
I’m just guessing, but figure that moron Bureaucrats came up with that (‘proly the same edjits responsible for the Siemens car fiasco)
How about Morning Twin Cities Hiawatha? (as both leave in the morning)
SAD
The name?? IMO bad choice as the name does not flow off speech. Suspect that only persons around MSP will have any idea. Will persons in CHI – MKE area even recognize much less nationwide? Advertising must say Amtrak’s Minneapolis Borealis and CHI Borealis.
Oh, c’mon already. I’m sorry you don’t know what a borealis is; if you did, you’d understand the significance. And why say “Minneapolis (really, St. Paul) Borealis” or “Chicago Borealis”? Do you say, “Chicago Empire Builder” or “Miami Silver Meteor”? Didn’t think so.
So you got out of bed on the wrong side today. Maybe you’ll feel better tomorrow. Or not.
My concern is that (unless co-branded as a Hiawatha) it would cause confusion to someone looking over the schedule for a Hiawatha. Why not just call it Hiawatha????? Historically that’s what trains on this route were called, not Borealis.
Another question I have is why the two CHI-MSP trains aren’t more separated time wise. They will run at similar schedules.
“Boring Alice”.