Amtrak and the partner states of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois are reporting strong customer demand for the Borealis trains between St. Paul and Chicago: more than 500,000 guests have ridden the daily train since service began May of 2024.

Ridership for all Amtrak trains on St. Paul-Chicago corridor since May 21, 2024, is more than 2.2 million, including the Borealis, multiple state-sponsored Amtrak Hiawatha Service trains daily between Milwaukee and Chicago and the daily Amtrak Empire Builder trains between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, via St. Paul and Milwaukee.

“Borealis is a huge success and the numbers are impressive, so investing in passenger rail was certainly the right choice by these three states,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President Jennifer Mitchell. “The data shows ridership is up in our Amtrak MidwestSM network and nationwide as more and more people want an affordable, comfortable and productive way to travel while avoiding record-high costs of driving.”

“Today’s announcement marks a defining milestone for passenger rail travel in the state of Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman. “Reaching 500,000 passengers demonstrates that the Borealis service is a reliable, effective and enjoyable way to travel throughout the state of Wisconsin and beyond. WisDOT is proud to continue this collaborative work with the states of Minnesota and Illinois and Amtrak to allow passenger rail travel to continue to thrive.”

“In roughly two and a half years of operation, the ridership numbers for Borealis continues to exceed expectations,” said Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “We are thrilled that Amtrak will add a fourth passenger car to the service in just a few weeks, which allows more Minnesotans access to this safe, reliable transportation option. We are grateful for the strong partnerships with states, local governments, businesses and communities that are vital to the success of Borealis.”

“Reaching this milestone provides another example of the continued demand for transportation between states that’s safe, affordable, reliable and doesn’t involve your car,” said Illinois

Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “We look forward to working with all of our state partners to strengthen passenger rail service and best serve the public.”

Borealis trains offer a café car featuring regional items. Customers enjoy wide reclining seats with ample legroom, no middle seats, and views of the Mississippi River between St. Paul and La Crosse, Wisc., in both directions. They originate from St. Paul at midday and Chicago in the late morning with Amtrak everyday discounts for children ages 2-12, students, seniors, veterans, military personnel and families, groups, and others.

About Amtrak®

Amtrak is seizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform rail and Retrain Travel. By modernizing, enhancing, and expanding trains, stations, and infrastructure, Amtrak is meeting the rising demand for train travel. Amtrak offers unforgettable experiences to more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada. Learn more at Amtrak.com, download the Amtrak app, connect with us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and join Amtrak Guest Rewards for free to start earning points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades, lounge access and more.

About MnDOT

Created in 1976, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) oversees transportation by all modes including land, water, air, rail, walking and bicycling. Its mission is to connect and serve all people through a safe, equitable and sustainable transportation system. Stay connected to MnDOT through our Social Hub.

About WisDOT

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) was officially established in 1967. It provides leadership in the development of a safe and efficient multimodal transportation system for the people of Wisconsin and the state’s many visitors. Learn more about WisDOT at wisconsindot.gov and connect with WisDOT on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube to stay up to date on the latest transportation news in Wisconsin.

About IDOT

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has statutory responsibility for the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of Illinois’ extensive transportation network, which encompasses highways and bridges, airports, public transit, rail freight and rail passenger systems. This vast transportation system supports the fifth largest state in the nation and more than 100 million visitors annually. IDOT’s Stay Connected page serves as an interactive hub to facilitate transportation news, events, video and photo galleries, and to promote information through social media platforms targeting all transportation stakeholders.

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