Proposed Passenger Train Between Duluth and Twin Cities Gets Limited Federal Funding

Northern Lights Express misses out on biggest chunk of federal funds announced Friday.

Ten rail projects across the country received over $8 billion in funding Friday, but the proposed Northern Lights Express was not one of them.

The Federal Railroad Administration announced its choices Friday.

While not included in the major funding for projects, the Duluth/Superior to the Twin Cities proposal was among dozens of ideas that will receive much smaller funding of up to $500,000 for more planning and cost estimates.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation says it will use the funds for more preliminary work on the project, which hopes to provide round-trip passenger service four times a day between Duluth-Superior and the Twin Cities.