New ‘Borealis’ Twin Cities to Chicago Train Service Starts This Month

Amtrak has announced their new passenger train service between the Twin Cities and Chicago will start running later this month.

The new state-sponsored Borealis route is the second daily Amtrak train service connecting St. Paul to Chicago with 11 stops in between.

MnDOT first announced the new passenger train route on the 411-mile corridor between the two cities in November 2023, and today they shared Amtraks announcement with more details including a start date, schedules and ticket prices.

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Where Does the New Amtrak Borealis Route Between St. Paul and Chicago Stop?

The Borealis trains are sponsored by the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois and will make stops in the following cities:

• St. Paul
• Red Wing, MN
• Winona, MN
• La Crosse, WI
• Tomah, WI
• Wisconsin Dells, WI
• Portage, WI
• Columbus, WI
• Milwaukee, WI
• Milwaukee Airport
• Sturtevant, WI
• Glenview, IL
• Chicago IL

How Much Are Tickets For the New Amtrak St. Paul to Chicago Borealis Trains?

"Amtrak Borealis trains will offer Coach and Business Class in addition to a café car featuring regional items," Amtrak said in a news release Wednesday.

Coach fares for the new Borealis passenger train route between St. Paul and Chicago are $41 each way for adults and $20.50 for children 2-12 years old. Students, seniors, and veterans all get a 10% discount.

"Customers will enjoy wide reclining seats with ample legroom, no middle seats, free Wi-Fi, and views of the Mississippi River between St. Paul and La Crosse, Wisc., in daylight in both directions across Wisconsin," the release continued.

What is the Schedule for the New Amtrak Borealis Trains?

The Borealis trains with two train schedules will begin running on May 21, 2024. The trip takes 7 hours and 24 minutes one way and runs 7 days/week.

🚄 The 1340 Borealis train originates in St. Paul (MSP) and departs at 11:50 AM arriving in Chicago at 7:14 PM.

🚄 The 1333 Borealis train originates in Chicago and departs at 11:05 AM arriving in St. Paul (MSP) at 6:29 PM.

“A second daily passenger rail service connecting St. Paul to Chicago via Milwaukee is a welcome addition to our transportation system, providing more choices and travel flexibility for passengers,” said Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger, Minnesota Department of Transportation.

You can learn more and book your trip on the Amtrak website.

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