Amtrak: Borealis Surpasses 100,000 Customers

October 25, 2024 Railfanning.org News Wire

ALC-42-Phase-VII-309-0822-scaled — 309, ALC-42, Amtrak, Charger, Phase VII Brand new ALC-42 #309 is the first unit to wear the Phase VII livery, seen at the Siemens plant in California. Photo by Mike Armstrong for Amtrak. Amtrak has rull rights.

Year-to-date ridership on the state-sponsored Borealis between St. Paul and Chicago has surpassed 100,000 customers.

Amtrak operates the eastbound and westbound Borealis trains daily under contracts with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Amtrak began operating Borealis trains starting May 21. The train supplements Amtrak’s long-distance Empire Builder.

“The number of full trains, even at mid-week on the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor, is leading Amtrak and our state partners to look at how we can add capacity,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said in an announcement.

Borealis trains originate from St. Paul at midday and Chicago in the late morning. Amtrak officials said ridership nationwide is on pace to set a record this year.