WASHINGTON. – A second daily passenger train through Winona can be expected by 2024 now that the Minnesota Legislature has pitched in the state’s $10 million share of funding. The funding was the last financial piece of the multi-state and federal $53.3 million project for the new service. The train will make the between Chicago and St. Paul in 7-1/2 hours, westbound through Winona probably in late morning and eastbound in late afternoon. Projections are 200 passengers a day each way.
52-year hiatus
Winona was served two daily Chicago-Seattle passenger trains when the quasi-government agency Amtrak was created in 1971 to operate the nation’s passenger train network.
> Empire Builder. Ran on the old Great Northern Hi-Line across northern Montana with Glacier Park a featured stop.
> North Coast Hiawatha. Ran a slightly southern route on the old Northern Pacific line to the West Coast with Yellowstone Park a featured stop.
Both trains traveled the same route via Winona to St. Paul, then split on their separate westward routes. The North Coast Hiawatha was discontinued n 1979 when Amtrak lost of hope that the service could break even.