ST. PAUL, Minn. — Amtrak’s Borealis service between St. Paul and Chicago, which debuted in May, passed the 100,000-passenger mark this week, with officials from Amtrak and the states funding the service riding the train on Thursday, Oct. 24, to mark the occasion.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the excitement and ridership that the new service has created and couldn’t be prouder of our partnership,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said in a press release. “The number of full trains, even at mid-week on the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor, is leading Amtrak and our state partners to look at how we can add capacity.”
The states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois fund the Borealis, which made its initial runs on May 21 and on the route also served by the Empire Builder [see “Amtrak Borealis makes debut,” Trains News Wire, May 21, 2024]. It was the first time the eight stations west of Milwaukee had been served by a second train since the discontinuation of the North Star in October 1981.
“Reaching 100,000 passengers in less than six months is a testament to the good things that can happen when we provide a service that is needed,” said Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger of Minnesota, which led the effort to launch the train. “We are very excited to reach this milestone and look forward to strengthening our partnerships with communities, as well as federal, state and local governments, and Amtrak to continue providing a safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation option.”
Amtrak marked the occasion by providing passengers with certificates for 500 bonus Amtrak Guest Rewards points and complimentary refereshments, along with a “100 Grand” candy bar.
Thursday’s eastbound Borealis ended the occasion on an unfortunate note, WBBM-TV reports, hitting an occupied car left on the tracks in Morton Grove, Ill., just south of the train’s next-to-last stop in Glenview, Ill. No injuries were reported aboard the train, but the Borealis — which had been just a few minutes late at Glenview, arrived in Chicago more than four hours late, according to the Transitdocs.com train tracker. The person who had been driving the vehicle was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
— Updated at 7:35 a.m. with information on accident involving eastbound Borealis.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore) was new and Veterans’s Stadium (Philadelphia) was decrepit.
MLB scheduled a Spring Training exhibition game with the Phillies visiting the O’s on an April Sunday afternoon. The exhibition game set an attendance record for Camden Yards. The AM train from NY to Wash was supposed to have 5 deadhead Amfleets; instead they were full PHL-BAL. People DO ride the train to ball games. (that was before NEC went all-reserved)
A surge fleet is the best idea. And if cars are older and less pleasant, reduce ticket price. A more accurate indication of market and pricing ma result.
Having consulted the late Jim Scribbins Hiawatha book, the longer westbound main track1 is upgrade and from the photo the line remains signaled (WB red on track 2).
Viewliner cars used on this train are a bit worn, but are easy to ride with very comfortable seats. Siemens cars’ seats are like concrete: insanely too hard, although the cars ride beautifully and have a hushed interior. Hopefully the next order will have more options for subdued car lighting and seats designed for humans.
That is a good idea . However until Amtrak can get enough equipment to have a section on the train just for fans it is impractical. Have a separate section of the train where your special ticketed fans get on that section isolates rowdy fans from regular passengers, Just one more reason for Amtrak to start getting surge fleet availability which is still somewhat in the future.
Once again the photo shows the old Milw. ROW split at Elm Grove. I suspect bi-directional signals still exist, although likely today’s freights do not need the easier grade. Mr. Landey can chime in this…and I agree on frequency and the need for a west suburb stop. None should be surprised at the numbers riding the ill-named “boring alice”…I will post the Milw’s schedule from the early 1950’s. What is wrong with Morning and Afternoon Hi’s?
Mr. Landey appreciates your confidence. I actually don’t know which track has the easier grade (WB is uphill up the Sunny Slope, away from Lake Michigan). What I do see is that it’s very rare for a train to run wrong main, like never. The No. 1 track is a bit longer so it might have the easier grade, thus the natural flow of uphill freightss being on the right-hand track.
The Boring Alice might not be boring, but she’s seriously ugly with the ill-matched locos on each end.
“. . . Amtrak and our state partners . . . [are looking] . . . at how we can add capacity.” In the “old days,” the freight railroads would have added more cars, probably from their older reserve equipment as opposed to front line. The lesson here for Amtrak is, whenever you buy new passenger cars, keep some of the old stuff in reserve for occasions when you need to “add capacity.” Not rocket science.
A second train opens up more coach seats for the Empire Bldr to sell which is what’s needed many people in the TC don’t want to depart as early as the EB does or are hesitant due to its unreliability so the Borealis appeals to travelers who may not have seriously considered train travel otherwise. Also, the earlier CHI departure is more convenient for those coming from the east & south instead of waiting in CHI for the EB. But to appease the naysayers here or otherwise this train will be #1 on the chopping block should the political winds of the MN Legislature shift, this train will be gone like a cool breeze on a hot summer day!
So all of you Negative Nancys and your endless complaining were wrong. Build it and they will come.
Mike — I know plenty of bylines on these pages who complain about Amtrak. I’ve don’t recall anyone on these pages denying the worth of a second frequency.
Just my 2 cents. I think there is a rare but very interesting opportunity to co-market the Borealis with MLB (Major League Baseball).
You have 4 major teams on the route (Twins, Brewers, Cubs, White Sox). With interleague play now common, a series package including tickets on the Borealis to and from the cities involved would be a great (including any needed local transit passes).
While I don’t think having MLB schedule each series sequentially is practical, (for them or the fans) it just seems obvious what an opportunity this can be.
Metra and CTA promote sports by transit constantly for the Chicago area.
As for the NFL we are talking Vikings, Bears and Packers (if they are on the road).
NBA, Timberwolves, Bucks and Bulls.
Again, just my thoughts.
Forgot the NHL, Wild and Blackhawks.
That is a good idea . However until Amtrak can get enough equipment to have a section on the train just for fans it is impractical. Have a separate section of the train where your special ticketed fans get on that section isolates rowdy fans from regular passengers, Just one more reason for Amtrak to start getting surge fleet availability which is still somewhat in the future.
Remove the number of passengers just riding from Chicago to Milwaukee and return to get an accurate number rather than inflating the totals with the number of passengers that would have ridden the pre-Borealis train with or without the Borealis extension.
What would better indicate Borealis effects would be to compare EB totals in past years to combined EB + Borealis now. So, combined riders now VS number on only EB before.
Got it, Alan Jones and Robert McGuire. The numbers may be inflated, but the convenience of the train as a second frequency is not overstated.
Frequency is the key. Those of us who have said such all along have now been proven correct. People who wouldn’t consider Amtrak MKE to MSP on the Empire Builder, now are flocking to the Borealis. BTW I’m literally speaking for myself (and Mrs. L.).
Now what we need is a west suburban stop here in populous Waukesha County (or maybe Wauwatosa which is in Milwaukee County).