mtuandrew wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 4:57 am
Agreed on Twin Cities Hiawatha. And none of those are new stations - they are the existing Empire Builder station stops. I was hoping they’d add MKA (Milwaukee Airport) at least, and Minneapolis Target Field as an endpoint.
But on the other hand, we get a new train!! I can’t complain that much.
This service has been discussed or some time, specifically a second train from Chicago to St. Paul. The Twin CIties Hiawatha is a good name as it would be following the former Milwaukee Road main line. I am also in support of an overnight service between these two cities, since that distance and potential market is perfect for that kind of service.
However, since this is an
expansion discussion, I was thinking of even more direct service between Chicago and St. Paul via Burlington Route (present-day BNSF Chicago,Aurora, St. Croix and St. Paul subdivisions), essentially restoring the Twin Cities Zephyr, and restoring service to the communities along that line (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Cities_Zephyr). Not to mention, that line also had overnight service
and was the route for the Empire Builder and the North Coast Limited, meaning it could be possible for LD trains to be rerouted through here as well.
"Look down, step over, and watch the gap!" - Dr. John Clarke, The Gap Rap (2010)