ST. PAUL, Minn. — The pro-rail lobbying group All Aboard Minesota is pushing the state to seek federal funds to study possibilities for a 220-mile passenger train corridor between St. Paul and Kansas City. The route would follow Interstate35 on current Union Pacific rights-of-way and connect these cities:
> Twin Cities, population 3.7 million.
> Des Moines, 740,000.
> Kansas City, 2.2 million.
The line also could be extended to Texas, said All Board spokesperson Brian Nelson. The immediate goal, he said, is for the Minnesota Transportation Department to apply for Federal Railroad Administration money for passenger corridor development. The proposed Kansas City trains would include Minnesota depots in Northfield, Faribault, Owatonna, and Albert Lea. The St. Paul and Albert Lea city councils already have signed on. Historically the now-defunct Chicago Great Western ran trains long the route with a side line swinging through Rochester.
Fallen flag. Anyone remember the Chicago Great Western’s passenger service to Rochester?
Proposed route
Perhaps Rochester again? Like olden days, the city could again bea possible sideline on proposed St. Paul-Kansas City rail route. Rochester or not, currently there’s no way to avoid overnight transfers at Amtrak’ s Chicago hub for Minnesota rail travelers to the Gulf Coast or West Coast and intermittent points.