No More Northstar


I wish train travel was more accessible in the United States. Many Americans are car-centric, and avoid using public transportation. In Europe, I found train travel almost effortless. However, it is significantly limited here. Nevertheless, I’ve enjoyed using Amtrak’s USA Rail Passes. Despite its drawbacks, I’ll be keeping an eye on their website this week for another potential sale, similar to the ones they held in mid-January for the past three years.

In the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, where I often spend part of the spring and summer, there are two light rail lines. The blue line connects downtown Minneapolis with the international airport and the Mall of America in the suburb of Bloomington. The green line runs between the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Additionally, new stations are being constructed in the southwestern suburbs and are expected to open next year. 


There’s also a train called the Northstar Line that ran between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake, Minnesota. I only took it once. In May 2018, I returned to Minneapolis by bus during the afternoon rush hour and planned to meet a friend in Anoka. Since the Northstar was running at that time, I decided to give it a try. I got a window seat and watched the train cross the Mississippi River twice while making stops in Fridley, Coon Rapids, and Anoka (the Northstar also stopped in Ramsey and Elk River). I appreciated that it got me to the northwest suburbs faster than the bus.


Plans to expand the Northstar Line to St. Cloud and beyond never materialized due to low ridership, insufficient funding, harsh weather conditions, and freight traffic. Other factors contributed to my not using the line other times. Primarily, the Northstar served suburban residents commuting to downtown, with additional routes added for Minnesota Vikings and Twins games. Another turnoff was the lack of transfer options. While I could transfer from the Northstar to a bus or light rail without paying an extra fare, the reverse was not possible.


Today marks the final day of operations for the Northstar Line. Fans attending the Vikings’ finale of this NFL regular season have the option to take the train instead of driving, avoiding the higher parking costs. Starting tomorrow, bus service will replace the Northstar. While this move will help Metro Transit save money, I still believe rail service should expand in the Twin Cities and other parts of the country. In the meantime, I’ve stopped flying due to the REAL ID requirement and Southwest Airlines’ added baggage fees. Traveling should be a more enjoyable experience.


“You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip…Because God will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.” - Proverbs 3:23,26 (The Message)


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