Refitted rolling stock. Single-level bulge-sided Amfleet day coaches. Now on Boston-Washington corridor. Possibly to Chicago-Milwaukee-Winona-St. Paul corridor.
Timetable listed for twice-daily Winona stops
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The long-discussed new day-train through Winona may be on the rails by the end of the year, according to a state Transportation Department update. A specific date was not reported, suggesting some fluidiity in planning, but a timetable was laid out:
> Eastbound: In Winona 1:39 p.m. for evening arrivals in Milwaukee and Chicago. This in addition to the existing Empire builder stop at 8:40 p.m.
> Westbound: In Winona at 4:19 p.m. for an evening arrival in St. Paul. This in addition to the existing Empire builder stop a 10:54 a.m.
The schedule would require two train sets – coaches and a lounge and snack car but no sleepers. The national passenger service Amtrak, which would operate the trains, is unlikely to use two-deck Superliner cars like those on the existing Empire Builder between Chicago and the West Coast. The Superliner fleet, with some cars 50 ears old, has been depleted by accidents. More likely are bulge-sided single -level Amfleet cars that are being replaced on the Northeast corridor between Boston and Washington. Amfleet consists usually are led by a single locomotive.
Earlier: Summer target for new Winona train
Rail upgrades
If plans pan out for a late 2023 start, the new passenger rail service would be operating before upgrades related to project are completed. These upgrades include motorized track switches from the Canadian Pacific mainline into the Union Pacific’s Winona yard and at CP’s junction of the mainline to its western Minnesota branch. These and other infrastructure upgrades are not scheduled to start until Spring 2024.