ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has included more than $5 million in funding for a second Chicago-Twin Cities passenger train in his recommendations for the state’s 2024-24 budgets.
The La Crosse Tribune reports the recommendations include increases in the state funding in capital projects to reflect inflation, as well as funds to match a federal grant for the first three years of the service.
In all, Walz’s budget recommendations include:
— $940,000 in Fiscal 2024 and $980,000 in 2025 for capital improvements on the route;
— $893,200 in 2024 and $2.258 million to match the federal grant;
— $122,000 in 2024 and 2025 for project management and grant administration;
— $4.876 million beginning in fiscal 2026 for Minnesota’s portion of the operating cost.
Final design work for what is known as the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago, or TCMC, project began last fall [see “Final design phase begins …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 20, 2022]. The train could begin operating as early as 2024.
Wisconsin wants to eventually also provide service via Eau Claire, also.
The Omaha Road corridor is still intact between Wyeville and Camp Douglas.
Who knows – we just might yet see varnish running on the old Omaha Road.
I remember the Amtrak Northstar in the 80’s Duluth – Twin Cites – Chicago left Midway station with a slpr & coaches around 10:30 pm arrived in Chi around 7 am you could make all your connections. The timing of this run won’t be as favorable for connections maybe the CNO & the Lake Shore. They should try a Northstar commuter connection from St Cloud for those who don’t want to get up early for the Emp Blr arrival & if they ever get the Northern Lights Exp from Duluth running another connection would be possible if Minneapolis would ever let them extend it to St Paul. But who knows whether ANY of this will come to fruition or how long it will last if/when the political winds shift.
With a second Chicago – Twin cities train perhaps a new North Coast ltd could link to it. Would love to take it to Portland.
The media getting ready to write 400,000 articles saying that doing this is a waste of taxpayer money as well as put thumbnail article pictures of trains that went out of service many years ago: *Monsters Inc scene of the scarers walking onto the scare floor*
And how many round trips were there 75 years ago between Burlington, Milwaukee Road nd the North Western? Progress comes slowly.
LAWRENCE — Several R/T on CNW alone, maybe 5 or 6, via Madison or via Milwaukee. That may be an over-count, could be that some Madison and Milwaukee trains were combined at Eau Claire.
Those were the days when the MILW main line was double iron, and the CNW route via Madison still existed.