Northstar train service ends as Amtrak Borealis grows

Northstar train service ends after a final gathering of rail fans in Minneapolis, and Metro Transit is moving to a bus-focused replacement plan for the commuter line.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The change also puts two Minnesota rail stories side by side: Northstar is shutting down, while Amtrak Borealis service Minnesota continues to run with ridership above expectations.

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On Friday, December 26, 2025, Northstar supporters met at Target Field Station Minneapolis at 3:15 p.m., intending to take the 3:38 p.m. trip to Big Lake for a farewell ride. Streets.mn organized the event as a chance for enthusiasts to say goodbye ahead of the official end date.

Metro Transit Northstar service discontinued after ridership decline

On January 5, 2026, Metro Transit Northstar service discontinued operations after years of declining ridership. The commuter rail line connected Big Lake with downtown Minneapolis and Target Field along a route of about 40 miles, even though earlier plans pointed to something longer.

Those earlier ideas took shape in the 1990s, when the project had federal and local backing. U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar said federal funding was available, and planners discussed service between Minneapolis and St. Cloud totaling more than 80 miles. Some supporters also hoped for a connection from Minneapolis to Duluth.

That broader buildout never happened. The Minnesota House twice declined to approve the state’s share of funding under the leadership of then-Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty, and the project ultimately moved forward in a shorter form.

Northstar launched in 2009 and was initially popular. Ridership fell sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2020 Metro Transit reduced weekday service and discontinued most weekend trains. Some departures returned in 2023, but the line did not regain its pre-pandemic frequency.

By early 2025, the Metropolitan Council and the Minnesota Department of Transportation said discontinuation was likely, and the decision was finalized in August 2025. El Tinklenberg — Minnesota transportation commissioner under former Gov. Jesse Ventura — described the outcome as “really disappointing,” saying many people had spent years trying to build the credibility of rail transit, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Amtrak Borealis service Minnesota exceeds ridership expectations

As Northstar wound down, Amtrak’s newer Minnesota route kept gaining riders. The Borealis debuted in May 2024, and it reached its 250,000th traveler in July 2025, a little more than a year after launch, as noted by Railway Supply’s coverage of the Borealis 250K milestone.

The FY25 Q3 Performance and Service Quality Report puts the Borealis Customer Service Index at 78%, defining CSI as the route’s overall customer satisfaction score for the quarter adjusted for on-time performance. Delays remain an issue: only 54% of passengers reach their final destination within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time. FY25 ridership is listed as 212,909.

Metro Transit Northstar replacement buses every 30 minutes

With Northstar train service ends now official, Metro Transit officials say the termination will mean a shift to more frequent bus service instead. In 2024, Northstar ran four weekday round trips and only operated occasionally on weekends.

The replacement plan calls for Northstar replacement buses every 30 minutes during rush hours. Metro Transit spokesperson Drew Kerr wrote in an email that commuters can expect nearly 400 weekly trips and that the bus option will be offered at a lower cost, as outlined on Metro Transit’s Northstar service page.

There is a downside, though. Metro Transit indicates bus trips are likely to be significantly slower than the former train service, meaning riders may face longer travel times even as Amtrak Borealis service Minnesota continues to post strong demand.

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