Northstar Line

Northstar Line
Overview
OwnerMetropolitan Council
LocaleMinnesota (Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Anoka County and Sherburne County)
Termini
Stations7
Websitemetrotransit.org/northstar
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemMetro Transit
Train number(s)888
Operator(s)BNSF Railway[1]
Rolling stockMotivePower MP36PH-3C,
Bombardier BiLevel Coach
Daily ridership400 (weekdays, Q1 2025)[2]
Ridership127,400 (2024)[3]
History
OpenedNovember 16, 2009 (2009-11-16)[4]
Technical
Line length40.1 miles (64.5 km)
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed79 mph (127 km/h) maximum
47 mph (76 km/h) average
Route map
Metro Bus Transit Center
SCSU–Miller Center
Amtrak Empire Builder
St. Cloud Amtrak (planned)
East Saint Cloud
Becker
Big Lake
Operations and Maintenance Facility
Elk River
Ramsey
Anoka
Coon Rapids–Riverdale
Coon Creek
Northern Lights Express (planned)
Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard (planned)
Fridley
Northtown Rail Yard
Amtrak Empire Builder
Minneapolis–Target Field
Southwest LRT (under construction)
Layover track

Northstar
Northstar Link
METRO light rail
all stations
accessible

The Northstar Line (reporting mark MNRX) is a commuter rail route in the US state of Minnesota. Northstar runs 40 miles (64 km) from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis at Target Field using existing track and right-of-way owned by the BNSF Railway. Passenger service began on November 16, 2009.[5][4] The rail line serves part of the Northstar Corridor between Minneapolis and St. Cloud. Planning for the line began in 1997 when the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) was formed.[6] The corridor is also served by Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 10. In 2024, the system had a ridership of 127,400, or about 400 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2025.

  1. ^ "Taking riders off the road and onto rail: BNSF operates trains for passenger rail services". BNSF Railway. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2025" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 15, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  3. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Minnesota's new star to begin service Nov. 16" (Press release). Metropolitan Council. August 31, 2009. Archived from the original on November 19, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  5. ^ Hult, Karla (November 15, 2009). "Northstar Commuter Rail service officially begins Monday". kare11 News. Retrieved November 30, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "History of Northstar". Northstar Commuter Rail. Northstar Corridor Development Authority. 2009. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2010.

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