2nd daily St. Paul-to-Chicago Amtrak train expected in 2024

A second Amtrak passenger train that will run between St. Paul and Chicago is expected to begin daily service in 2024, after Minnesota lawmakers set aside $10 million for the project.

The money from the state was the final piece needed to jump-start the additional round-trip service to Chicago’s Union Station.

Minnesota now joins the federal government, Wisconsin and Amtrak in funding the $53.3 million capital portion of the project.

"This investment in passenger rail expansion will boost travel and tourism while expanding economic growth across our region," Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a statement. "I’m proud to have helped secure the federal grant to make it happen, and I will continue pushing for additional resources to improve our state’s transportation infrastructure."

The trip would take about 7 1/2 hours and is expected to ferry about 124,000 passengers between St. Paul and Chicago each year.