CHICAGO —The Amtrak Borealis passenger train is sold out for most of its daily Chicago-to-St. Paul runs but is carrying fewer passengers than when service started in May 2024. How can this be? Amtrak first assigned aging Horizon cars to the train with seats for 286 passengers, but the cars had to be scrapped as unsafe when rusting was discovered. Amtrak replaced the Horizons with spare bi-level Superliner coaches with 210 sets. Even with lesser capacity, Amtrak regards the Borealis as a success. The latest report shows the train at 97% capacity in July and 89% August.
Earlier: Borealis with bi-level Superliner coaches in tow
Earlier: Amtrak’s rusting Borealis rolling stock to scrapyard
Earlier: Borealis back on tracks, now odd-looking
Earlier: Daily Borealis trains sidetracked as unsafe
Bi-level Superliner coaches. Designed for long-distance trains. In substitute service on Borealis day trains. Winona departures to St, Paul at 4:45 p.m., to Milwaukee and Chicago at 1:41 p.m.