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May 21, 2024

Amtrak Borealis 5/21/24 Inaugural Trip Between St. Paul and Chicago

Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner joined Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, FRA Administrator Bose, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation to celebrate the start of Borealis service on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

The new state-sponsored trains originate from St. Paul at midday and from Chicago in the late morning via Milwaukee. Amtrak Borealis trains  offer Coach and Business Class in addition to a café car featuring regional items.

Customers can enjoy wide reclining seats with ample legroom, no middle seats, free Wi-Fi, and views of the Mississippi River between St. Paul and La Crosse, Wisc., in daylight in both directions across Wisconsin. The new service is sponsored by the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Remarks from the inaugural event include:

“Amtrak welcomes Minnesota to the Amtrak state partner family, as we introduce residents and visitors to the convenience of more train travel options between the Twin Cities and Chicago, via Milwaukee onboard the new Borealis service,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, who rode the first Borealis train (today). “This is a success story, and thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we are diligently working to offer new and expanded intercity passenger rail service like Borealis with our partners across the country.”

“Investments in rail have long helped Midwesterners and the region’s economy, and this service will mean additional passenger rail access for people traveling between Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois while contributing to economic growth. Today marks yet another win for passenger rail expansion in America, and through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, even more progress is underway, “ said FRA Administrator Amit Bose.

More info can be found here.

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