Editor’s note: This article is adapted from two opinion pieces in the Duluth New Tribune: “Reader’s View: Railroad police, dogs will keep NLX safe” and “Reader’s View: Duluthians can ride the rails New Mexico style.”
As a resident of Duluth, I have written extensively about the Northern Lights Express (NLX) for Streets.mn, including the difference it can make not only for my community and the Twin Cities but the state overall. My two-part series that “made the case” for this important amenity, which will boost economic development and help to slow climate change, was published in early 2023.
Here’s my current thinking about the NLX: Despite a passionately felt debate in the Twin Cities about the merits of police on Blue and Green Line trains, I believe that Amtrak police in Duluth will keep railroad tracks clear from obstructions and protect railroad property from vandalism, while protecting crews and passengers from harm on the trains.
In addition, a number of my fellow Duluth citizens have voiced concerns that the proposed NLX passenger train line could bring crime and criminals to northern Minnesota. To counter crime onboard the state’s passenger trains, the Minnesota Legislature last session passed a measure to authorize railroad police as licensed peace officers. These officers have the same authority, duties and responsibilities as other Minnesota law enforcement officers. With several Amtrak lines being planned for the Upper Midwest, increasing the number of licensed peace officers on patrol is welcomed by often-understaffed Minnesota police departments.
For example, the Amtrak station in Winona, Minnesota, recently has seen more use from the Borealis, a second daily train between the Twin Cities and Chicago. Winona Police Chief Tom Williams told All Aboard Minnesota, “Our department has had the opportunity to work directly with the railroad police and have found them to be extremely courteous, professional and well trained. As a local law enforcement agency, we would also welcome the additional resources of the railroad police to assist us with police response and equipment.”
Nationwide, Amtrak has more than 50 canine law-enforcement patrols checking daily for bombs and illegal narcotics in Amtrak parking lots and stations and on moving trains. Amtrak’s railroad police and canine patrols mean that Northern Lights Express trains would create less of a feared crime surge along the Interstate 35 corridor.
Riding the Rails New Mexico-Style
In 2006, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the Rio Metro Regional Transit District (Rio Metro), a regional transportation agency, started operating the 97-miles-long, 79-mph New Mexico Rail Runner Express (NMRX) passenger train. Rio Metro passenger trains run from the northern terminus at the Santa Fe Depot in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to the southern terminus of Belen Station in the center of Belen, New Mexico.
The proposed Northern Lights Express (NLX) train in Minnesota should emulate three good ideas from Rio Metro.
- Given that the greater roadrunner is the state bird of New Mexico, Rail Runner Express locomotives portray a stylistic roadrunner while the coaches portray trailing tail feathers. Our NLX locomotives should portray the Minnesota state bird, the common loon, while portraying the loon’s tail feathers on the coaches.
- Rail Runner Express passenger trains have a door-closing tone that resembles the signature “beep-beep” of the Warner Bros’ Road Runner cartoon character. The NLX’s door-closing tones should resemble the call of a common loon.
- Reduced rates are available on the Rail Runner Express to senior citizens, students, those with a valid Medicare card and people with disabilities. Also, children 9 and younger ride free. Active-duty military and veterans who show ID ride free. The ID can be a VHIC or VA medical card, a veteran’s ID (or VIC) card, a driver’s license with a veteran’s designation, a Department of Defense active duty and dependent military ID or the NMRX Freedom Pass.
In addition, people 60 and older ride the New Mexico Rail Runner Express free on Wednesdays, allowing residents and visitors to explore New Mexico’s restaurants, museums and shops, as well as its beautiful scenery. Imagine a future where you get free NLX roundtrip tickets when you buy tickets for major league sporting events in downtown Minneapolis.
The Efficiency of Rail
If a long-distance bus has a mechanical problem, that scheduled bus sometimes is canceled for that day. While walking through the Duluth Transportation Center, I overheard a bus clerk telling a frustrated customer that her trip would be delayed by a day because her bus had a mechanical problem, and no other bus was available to replace it. The only good news: her ticket was still valid for tomorrow’s bus.
However, a mechanically reliable locomotive could replace a malfunctioning NLX locomotive within minutes. As shown below, it is common practice for freight railroads to loan Amtrak their powerful freight locomotives to rescue stalled Amtrak trains.
The NLX is an important part of Minnesota climate, economic and transportation policies. The more residents and politicians who talk about the good things NLX will bring to Minnesota residents, the greater the chances NLX will be built.
In 2025, the Minnesota Legislature won’t be dealing with further funding requests from the state for NLX, according to Ken Buehler, who chairs the technical advisory committee for the Northern Lights Express Alliance. And the State Rail Plan isn’t due until after the legislative session ends in May, he added.
Minnesotans need more bus and commuter rail service, similar to the public transportation network that New Jersey Transit built one project at a time. If you have ideas for NLX or other ways to improve public transportation in Minnesota, share your opinion with local media outlets (including Streets.mn) and contact your state legislators.