Route map
The Federal Rail Administration has approved a route for the Northern Lights Express passenger train proposed between the
The 155-mile route approved — the one preferred by promoters of the passenger train — would use existing BNSF Railway track from
The approval was announced Wednesday at the regular meeting of the
Duluth/Superior Passenger Rail Alliance that oversees efforts for the proposed high-speed train.
Stations for the 110 mph train could be in
“The approval of the preferred route for this project is another step toward improving travel for Minnesotans and laying the groundwork to address our state’s transportation needs in the future,” U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said in a statement.
Bob Manzoline, executive director of the Regional Railroad Authority, told the News Tribune that Northern Lights Express officials now must negotiate with BNSF for the right to use the route, an agreement that could be an easement or lease or other fee based on use or tonnage. BNSF is not obliged to allow the passenger train on its tracks.
Meanwhile, an environmental review of the project is expected to be completed by December, when it will be submitted to federal regulators. With approval, preliminary engineering work could begin in 2012 on switches, signals, bridges and straightening curves to upgrade the track from 50 mph freight trains to 110 mph passenger trains. The Northern Lights Express in May received a $5 million federal grant and $3 million from the state that will pay for that engineering work to start.
Additional Federal Rail Administration money would be needed for construction and to purchase trains, with the total project cost estimated to be up to $750 million. The state and local governments may have to pay up to 20 percent of the cost, plus costs for new or improved stations.