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Deal signed for new Minneapolis transit, rail hub
And why not Amtrak in Minneapolis? Why is that so difficult?
Amtrak trains will only stop at the soon-to-be former Midway Station when they have cars to set off/pick up. As of now, no passengers will entrain/detrain there. No other servicing will be done. SPUD has potable water hydrants along the platform.
As for Amtrak in Minneapolis, maybe if (BIG if right now) Amtrak has a second Chicago-Twin Cities train, that train would serve a Minneapolis station. Highly doubtful that Metro Transit has planned for Amtrak to occupy any part of their new facility. If there was some sort of a ‘wow’ or balloon track for trains to turn, then maybe trains like the EMPIRE BUILDER could, indeed, serve both cities.
Doubtful there is money for all that.
Amtrak hasn’t been in Minneapolis since the early 1970s when the lone Twin Cities Amtrak station was built in the Midway section of St. Paul. To use this new Target Field transit hub, Amtrak would have to back into the station from Minneapolis Junction (home of Milw Road No. 261). It’s a little short of one mile between Minneapolis Junction and the new transit center.
Amtrak trains will still have to stop at Midway station for a service stop but I’m not sure whether they will board or de-train passengers there.
So this is what the Twins are spending money on…no wonder the Twins (which I support BTW) can’t field a decent team!
Also, Amtrak has tentatively committed to using the refurbished Union Station in St Paul, which was also designated as a transit center.
Believe me, the extra space for staging LRT trains and queuing LRT passengers is needed badly. Things were too crowded with only one line operating–now there will be two LRT lines with two more in the works. Also, this project grade separates the considerable pedestrian flow from the north, which previously had to cross the tracks right at the station. It’s a good project.
I’m with Bill Thoms 100 per cent of believing that Amtrak sould stop at this new station, as well as SPUD. Given that both the Twin Cities are major cities, there’s no reason whatsoever why Amtrak souldn’t stop at both stations. Also, I feel that there still should be some kind of role as a passenger stop for Midway Station. That metro area is simply too big for just one Amtral stop.