Northstar Line

Northstar Line
Overview
Service typeCommuter rail
SystemMetro Transit (Metropolitan Council)
LocaleMinnesota (Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Anoka County and Sherburne County)
First serviceNovember 16, 2009 (2009-11-16)[1]
Current operator(s)BNSF Railway (locomotives)
Metropolitan Council (train staff)
Daily ridership400 (weekdays, Q2 2024)[2]
Annual ridership142,200 (2023)[3]
Websitemetrotransit.org/northstar
Route
TerminiTarget Field
Big Lake
Stops7
Distance travelled40 miles (64 km)
Service frequency4 weekday round trips
Technical
Rolling stockMotivePower MP36PH-3C,
Bombardier BiLevel Coach
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed79 mph (127 km/h) maximum
47 mph (76 km/h) average
Track owner(s)BNSF Railway
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.[4][1] 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.[5] The corridor is also served by Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 10. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 142,200, or about 400 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Hult, Karla (November 15, 2009). "Northstar Commuter Rail service officially begins Monday". kare11 News. Retrieved November 30, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "History of Northstar". Northstar Commuter Rail. Northstar Corridor Development Authority. 2009. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2010.