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Helicopter to map proposed Minnesota passenger train route
a few Guys at the Duluth Railway Station Museum has been trying to convince me that we will see Amtrak return to Duluth.
Yet, the drive from my house is only 2.75 hours, and then I have a car when I get their. Motels in the Burbs are cheaper vs downtown by fair. and I have friends that lived on the fair East Side. and don’t like to imposed on them if I had wanted to get to their House.
Meanwhile another Rail-fan is also on my view, yet, we rail fans would like to see extra service, it just does not make sense to have Amtrak return to Duluth, when I could careless about the snobby towns along the way. and as stated we have I-35.
Having said that, we need an extra Train from St Paul to Chicago, and we need to bring back the Broadway Limited. if the Lake Shore can sell out the over price Sleepers, then the Broadway Limited will also sell out the over priced. however, if we had a more direct Train to Philly not making sense changing in Pittsburgh in the Middle of the night. or back tracking to Washington or New York,
What I am trying to say is; I am for extended Amtrak Service. but, I am for extended Amtrak Service where it makes sense.
Why the Helicopter? Is there a hidden rail route that we don’t know about? The BNSF route from the Twin Cities to the Twin Ports is the only logical one.
I’m all for rail passenger service…but this study makes you scratch your head and wonder. (Might of been a great rail fan
trip from the air though).
What do they need to map? This is some of the flattest country on the planet except for the water. Another example of wasted dollars that could be used for better things.
Helicopter? What contractor/consultant has bamboozled the public on this one? At how many thousands of dollars an hour for flight operations alone? - not counting the imagery software and mapping. As this route has been around since I believe the mid 19th Century and is still in operation I would think that BNSF, UP or whoever MUST have detailed maps of their property with sidings, grades, etc. I would hope they already would have the information in a company Geographic Information System…right? And what about using an inspection car?
What - these guys don’t have access to Google Earth ??? And if they had to look over the line, wouldn’t it be better to do that with a short passenger train or a hi-rail ???
It’s funny to see people’s comments about the helicopter. IIRC they were using LIDAR and some other things. It’s way, way more effecient and accurate than the old way.
It is sad to people not getting upset that the state of MN is issuing millions of dollars in bond money for a project that will never occur. That is, they’re borrowing money today to start work on a project that will never happen. The same with the millions the Feds have contributed.
I realize that theoretically this project has been alive. But it has been for the last 25+ years. It’s morphed depending on the flavor of the day but it’s never died. And the matter of fact is that it is going to cost $2.5 to $4 billion dollars to build their non-HSR rail line to the beautiful backwater town on the North Shore, Duluth.
In answer to several of the below criticisms.
- Lake Woebegone is way far west. The terrain from Minneapolis to Duluth is hilly, especially as you get closer to the St. Croix river and the Twin Ports.
- If I were an engineer I wouldn’t trust google earth any more than I would trust your assessment of Minnesota Terrain when you live on the left coast.
- I agree with the fellow that wrote that priority should be for a second Twin Cities to Chicago train.
- Following the logic of one of the writers, why should I pay for improvements to hiway 61 north of Two Harbors when I never drive on that road, and probably never will.
I’m not familiar with Minnesota, but, I think that Amtrak ridership statistics nationwide in recent years may be taken as a “vote” in favor of having more passenger train service—high speed or conventional. I think that if this project comes to fruition, it will be a success!
WHY a 110 MPH line to Duluth of all things? Spend it where service is needed; this coming from someone who firmly believes in HSR.
Didn’t Amtrak have an overnight train running on this route before? Bringing back the “North Star”, as a Chicago-Duluth train would be a great way to vary the frequency between Chicago and the Twin Cities with a new night option, but it also must make good connections with The Empire Builder to/from the west at the Twin cities. The other option would be for an alternate daytime train with a first in the morning departure and late evening arrival at Chicago. Also, a bus connection to/from Fargo, ND would help.
As an advocate of Amtrak (and expanded service) I just can’t understand why anyone would want this service. The old Northstar was semi-successful at best…on weekends. As pointed out earlier, the drive to Duluth (though sometimes nasty during summer weekends) is relatively quick.
If this train is to be contecting service to the Empire Builder, why is it’s southern origination/terminus in downtown Minneapolis? The Amtrak station is in St. Paul (Midway station), which will be relocating to the renovated Union Station in downtown St. Paul later this year. I’m surprised no one has commented on that.