This article is focused on heavy-rail projects and does not discuss existing or potential light rail lines in the core Twin Cities area.
Additional stops in downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, Snelling Avenue, Rice Street, Lower Afton Road, Newport were proposed, as was a deferred extension to Red Wing.
The Minneapolis end of the route was initially designated to be at Target Field station, but revised to terminate at Saint Paul Union Depot.
[1] The Norwood Corridor is a proposed rail line between Minnetonka and downtown Minneapolis, using existing Twin Cities & Western trackage.
[1] The Dan Patch Corridor is a proposed commuter rail line which runs from Minneapolis to Northfield, Minnesota.
The Amtrak Empire Builder serves this route, but it is inconveniently timed for passengers in Fargo since the trains in both directions are scheduled for station stops between 2 and 4 AM.
They use BNSF Railway's busy northern transcontinental line, which is expected to need significant upgrades in order to handle increasing freight traffic.
The proposal also recommends interlining the TCMC train with one of Amtrak's Hiawatha trips and expanding the service to Minneapolis Target Field Station or St.
Part of MnDot's state rail plan is a proposed line connecting the southeastern city of Rochester with St. Paul and Minneapolis.
From Minneapolis or St. Paul to Northfield, Faribault, Owatonna and Albert Lea, with eventual plans to go south to Des Moines and Kansas City.
Along with the Northern Lights Express and the Rochester link, a line eastward to Eau Claire, Wisconsin was identified in 2009 as a Phase I corridor for implementation before 2030.
It would use "enhanced conventional" service of 79 to 90 mph (127 to 145 km/h) and would likely make use of existing rails owned by the Union Pacific Railroad (ex-Omaha Road/Chicago and North Western).