How can I help NLX?
The time is now to contact your state legislators. Help bring this powerful economic, environmentally friendly project to life! Give people more choices in where they live, work, go to school, play.
How do I Find My Local Legislator to Write?
Nothing lets your elected representatives know you care about an issue like personal outreach. Take five minutes to make a call, send an email or write a letter to an elected representative to let him or her know you are excited about the economic and lifestyle benefits NLX will bring. Here’s a quick and easy tool for locating your elected state and federal officials.
Sign Up for Updates
Sign up to get occasional updates on the progress of NLX and NLX Alliance activities. The Minnesota Department of Transportation also maintains a database of interested people who want to receive project updates and notices of open houses. You can see their site and sign up with MnDOT here.
Voice your Support
Cities, local businesses, and community organizations from the Twin Cities to Duluth are lining up to show their support for NLX. Add your group to the growing list by signing up as a supporting organization. Organizations—large and small, nonprofit, public and private sectors—have stepped up. Thank you!
What are the benefits of NLX?
Environment and Safety
- Decreased emissions due to shift from private auto to train travel.
- Emissions savings and Co2 reductions of $50 million.
Rail is second only to ferry boats for lowest carbon footprint per passenger mile. - Track improvements will make travel along the tracks safer for vehicles, bikes, walkers.
- Reduced blocked crossing incidents mean better flow of vehicles and trains.
- Crossing improvements will reduce the number of crashes by up to 130 over 40 years.
Economic Benefits
- NLX is expected to generate $150 million in increased property values.
- Freight benefits include more efficient logistics for shippers, improved speed and reliability.
- Increased state and local tax revenue of about $15 million in the first year of operation.
- NLX connects several communities with colleges and vo-techs—lower travel costs, less stress, more choices.
NLX Creates Jobs
- 3,000 good-paying jobs will upgrade tracks and build or add onto stations in Minneapolis, Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley, Superior, Duluth.
- Employers can attract more workers. And employees can easily commute daily or occasional to an office.
- NLX will support the equivalent of 700+ jobs in several industries.
- Tourism revenues of $400+ million will support 200+ jobs and wages of about $250 million over a 40-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at info@northernlightsexpress.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
NLX is a proposed passenger rail project between Target Field Station in Minneapolis and Union Depot in Duluth
NLX is a $495 million investment in transportation. This is much lower than
earlier estimates that called for higher speeds, the purchase of equipment and building a
maintenance facility. The cost estimate was calculated during our process to earn federal approval, which was completed the end of 2018. Today’s figure of $495 million includes inflation factors.
We will ensure each grade crossing (especially rural crossings) has auditory
and sensory warnings and gates. Stations in Duluth and Minneapolis (Target Field) will be
upgraded. New stations will be constructed in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley, and Superior.
Track improvements will allow for safe, on-time service for both passenger and freight traffic.
The primary funding source is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress. The state is asked to make at least a 20% match. Local governments have invested several million in early studies.
The project is on existing BNSF Railway tracks that are in use, so unlike light rail transit (LRT), we won’t have to build our own infrastructure or pay 100% of its maintenance. We don’t anticipate a shortage on the budget.
The track is not just for NLX. We are sharing a very important rail corridor with
freight trains coming to and from the Duluth international harbor. BNSF owns the line but has granted trackage rights to Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific. All together there only are about ten to twelve trains a day on the line and most of them travel overnight. The line has plenty of excess capacity for four passenger trains a day.
The improvements NLX will be making to the corridor will benefit freight service and
improve vehicle and pedestrian protection at grade crossing to enhance safety along the line.
The capital cost estimate includes track and safety improvements to allow
NLX to speed up and pass the slower freight trains. Building longer, five-mile sidings will allow freight and passenger trains to pass without having to stop. This will improve both freight train efficiency and passenger train travel time.
Trains still play in important role today. Passenger rail currently serves over 500 cities in 46 states.
The responsibility for the safe and timely operations would be shared by BNSF and Amtrak. The Passenger Rail and Improvement Act of 2008 mandated railroads and Amtrak to set new and improved metrics and standards to ensure on-time performance of passenger trains over freight trains.
Our estimate for ridership in the first year alone is 700,000- 750,000. In 2040, our annual
estimate is about 1 million riders.
The trip would take approximately 2 1/2 hours traveling one way.
4 round trips a day from Duluth Depot to Target Field Station.
We are still working with Amtrak to discuss ticket prices. Our current estimate is $30-$35 one way, and less for stations in between. There are discussions about adding discounts or frequent rider rewards.
New stations will be constructed in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley, and Superior. Upgrades will occur at the Minneapolis and Duluth stops.
The train will go up to 90 miles per hour.
Lots of comfortable amenities:
- On board WIFI
- Bathrooms
- Comfortable seating
- Small tables where you can work
- Bike storage on the train and off
- Plenty of leg room to stretch and walk about
A Few of our Champions
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