Join the discussion on the following article:
Environmental study ordered for proposed Minnesota passenger service
“No existing railroad line directly links the two, so an entirely new passenger line would have to be constructed.”
Surely some railroad line used to connect the two. Whose was it? And how much remains of the right of way?
“No existing railroad line directly links the two, so an entirely new passenger line would have to be constructed.”
Surely somerialroad line used to connect the two. Whose was it? And how much remains of the right of way?
Negative, no direct Rochester to Twin Cities. Winona to Cities via Milwaukee was direct following the Mississippi. Which would have involved taking C&NW Rochester to Winona and changing lines to the Milwaukee or crossing the river and taking the Burlington up the other side. The former Milwaukeee double track still is in use and I believe the same is true re the Burlington double track. Rochester to Winona single track still in use but slow order track and it’d be going south to turn at Winona and head South. Laying 90 miles of new rite of way for passenger use will never fly as it’d cost a fortune and need big time subsidy. Hell the feds won’t support Amtrak like they should. Let Mayo step up with the big bucks particularly after the big stink they put up re freights couple years ago. They had no problems in the 60’s when we were running 100 car multi-unit drags. I fired on them in 63 and my father was the agent at Eyota 11 mi. East.
I am sorry to put a wet blanket on this lofty project but with mony so “dear” can this be afforded"; also the NIMBY crowd and the lawyers will be out in droves to oppose the project.
On an overview as described in the article, it appears that the line could provide service that may or may not be well used.
Once south of Hampton, MN, hwy. 52 is beset with hills and curves all tve way go Rochester. Probably a one of a good, reason’s why, one was never built in the first place. The best route would be one that follows MN hwy. 56 to Kenyon on the old ROW of the Chicago Great Western to Dodge Center.