Northstar Commuter Rail - Train Profiles

[@stephenspilker9334]

at one time we had the best street car and commutor lines in the country, wish we had that back.i still remember the days when you could ride a train to almost anywhere in the state. we need more rail travel. i can't wait for amtrak service to duluth to come back.

[@StevesWanderlust]

Indeed! It's concerning how many folks in MN see commuting as a concept where one mode must win over others. Traffic congestion is no good for any mode of transit, we need all kinds to spread out people as they move about, especially as populous as the Twin Cities are becoming.

[@Cart_ama]

Surprise, surprise! Metro Transit recently announced increased service with additional round and one-way trips in both directions. Plus, special service for just Vikings games without weekend service, unfortunately. All of this is starting October 2nd!!

[@fish8622]

I used to ride this home from work he U of M. It was always eerily empty.

[@lazyidiotofthemonth]

The problem isn't metro transit, its the counties that fund it. Anoka decided to cease spending on it, and Metro was forced to cutback service. in 2010 there was 5 there and one back for each transit cycle.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this fascinating video ! The trains look great, and for a diesel,loco fan, those MPI locos are fabulous. However, as you say, the frequency is diabolical. I am amazed that service runs at all, for with just two trains a day in each direction North Star cannot possibly cover the running expenses. I do hope the politicians can get together and sort it out !

[@StevesWanderlust]

Thank you, and you're welcome! Hopefully MN doesn't give up on the service and considers a way forward that puts the nice looking equipment into service for more Minnesotans

[@ttopero]

I rode the Northstar back in 2009 late November. The schedule was a bit better then, but the only way I was able to ride it as a Minneapolis resident was because I had to pick up my car at my mechanics that had a shop in Big Lake, and another friend who had a house nearby I could stay at overnight. Car was ready by morning (worked on it after hours for a couple days), so unless I was able to stay overnight, the trip wouldn’t have been possible, as reverse commuting is not recognized in the U.S. It was a nice ride & preferable to driving on I-94 with congestion. I wonder if these are the same cars & locomotives from then?

[@StevesWanderlust]

They certainly appear to be the original set, based on the very humble wear present. Reverse commute recently got reinstated for weekdays. I'm looking forward to riding the whole line and bus connection to St. Cloud this winter.

[@himbourbanist]

Metro Transit should get serious with this line and start upping the frequency. It's good that it's there, but two trains on weekedays is god awful

[@StevesWanderlust]

Agreed!

[@GOATSareborninMay]

Up the frequency and increase the speed why isn’t the train operating at 79 mph like a normal corridor? The route looks perfectly straight

[@StevesWanderlust]

Something about metro speed restrictions mostly. Nothing that can't be changed!

[@GOATSareborninMay]

@@StevesWanderlust agreed man that would help it be competitive with cars there

[@pauljohansson288]

First

[@kevinmoynihan8087]

Complete waste of taxpayer money…I love trains as much as the next guy….but politicians, especially former ‘wrestlers’, could never foresee the impact of Zoom and Uber….have you ever worked with younger ‘office workers’….they literally refuse to go to work…this might be better used as one of those rails to trails for the pedal bikes…

[@StevesWanderlust]

You're right on there. It's a project two decades beyond usefulness and those running it have stepped aside as if they have no input or ideas to make it work better for the cities it barely serves. Nashville's commuter rail might be more useful!