As chair of the Great River Rail Commission, I am passionate about passenger rail travel. The commission is one of the leading voices on passenger rail in Minnesota. We are made up of officials from local and regional governments from St. Paul to La Crosse. We advocate for passenger rail options along the Mississippi River route, connecting the Twin Cities with Milwaukee and Chicago.
Celebrating Borealis
In May 2024, part of our long-range vision was realized with the launch of the Borealis train, a second daily roundtrip passenger rail service from the Twin Cities to Chicago, complementing the Amtrak Empire Builder. Since then, Borealis has by far exceeded projected ridership and has met key milestones well ahead of schedule.
Last October, we celebrated having served 100,000 passengers. With 212,515 riders through April of this year, Borealis train ridership has significantly surpassed expectations. The original 2015 Amtrak feasibility study estimated annual ridership to be approximately 155,500.
Why Passenger Rail
People choose passenger trains because they are convenient, safe, productive and efficient. We believe Borealis is comfortable, affordable travel to great destinations. The passenger experience is simply better than driving or flying. There’s more room, more storage, fewer (usually no) extra fees, and you can work, read, sleep, and visit with friends and family in comfort during your trip. Additionally, passenger rail stations are often in the heart of downtown, in the middle of a city’s business district, and near entertainment venues, shops and restaurants.
Passenger rail travel is enjoyable. On the Empire Builder or Borealis route to Chicago, you can watch bald eagles fly over the Mississippi River near Red Wing, enjoy scenic views of Lake Pepin and travel through the red sandstone cliffs near the Wisconsin Dells. Don’t forget about my hometown, Winona, with a train station just steps away from the campus of Winona State University, or a short car ride to St. Mary’s University.
Passenger rail is also a safe, affordable travel alternative for senior citizens. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that fatalities involving elderly drivers increased by 36% between 2009 and 2018 for males and 17% for female drivers, something the NHTSA attributes to a growing elderly population and a lack of transportation options in areas that are dependent on automobile transport.
Passenger rail travel gives seniors a great option that is significantly safer than driving. Amtrak offers a ridership discount for seniors as well.
Learn More
According to Amtrak, via the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, ridership for the first 11 months of Borealis service was heaviest in August, July and December 2024. Monthly breakdowns are as follows:
| Month/Year | Westbound | Eastbound | Total |
| May 2024 | 3,622 | 3,028 | 6,650 |
| June 2024 | 10,323 | 9,122 | 19,445 |
| July 2024 | 11,031 | 10,236 | 21,267 |
| August 2024 | 11,746 | 10,563 | 22,309 |
| September 2024 | 9,859 | 8,929 | 18,788 |
| October 2024 | 10,981 | 10,055 | 21,036 |
| November 2024 | 10,624 | 8,908 | 19,532 |
| December 2024 | 10,878 | 9,692 | 20,570 |
| January 2025 | 6,903 | 6,508 | 13,411 |
| February 2025 | 7,642 | 7,196 | 14,838 |
| March 2025 | 10,095 | 9,041 | 19,136 |
| April 2025 | 7,865 | 7,668 | 15,533 |
| TOTALS | 111,569 | 100,946 | 212,515 |
If you support passenger rail, help us to continue to fill these trains by sharing information about Borealis with friends and family online and in person.
Visit the Great River Rail Commission website at greatriverrail.org to learn more. We look forward to many more years of Borealis service. See you on the trains!