95+% of Northstar revenues do not come from ridership. Despite never meeting any of their promises on the route, neither Metro Transit nor MN's politicians have plans to end Northstar. No worries, it'll survive.
They are also talking about the morning Hiawatha.......I mean the second Empire Builder being extended to St. Cloud as well but just talk at this point.
For about two months, North Star has been cut from five round trips per day to two round trips a day, with no service Saturday and Sunday. No fans at the Minnesota Twins games means another loss of revenue for North Star.
One retired conductor days he heard that 15 people ride each train down and back.
Discussion is still on the table to extend the North Star from Big Lake, MN to St. Cloud, MN in order to take advance of the longer corridor. That would involve redoign tracks and switch at the west of the Big Lake Station.
I hope North Star can survive this panemic.
Ed Burns
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