At the inaugural run of Amtrak’s Borealis service on May 21, from left: Joel Mueller, BLET Minnesota SLB Chairman, Riley Richmond, BLET Division 27, and Chad Roehrich, BLET Midwest Regional Chairman-Amtrak GCA.
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Strong public interest in Amtrak’s new state-sponsored Borealis service between St. Paul and Chicago has propelled ridership past the 100,000 customer mark in just 22 weeks. BLET Amtrak General Chairman Pat Darcy said the level of ridership shows the public is hungry for more Amtrak expansion.
The BLET helped kick off the service on May 21 as Brother Riley Richmond, a member of BLET Division 27 in St. Cloud, Minn., worked as locomotive engineer for the train’s inaugural run. Also representing BLET at the ribbon cutting ceremony were Joel Mueller, BLET Minnesota State Legislative Board Chairman, and Chad Roehrich, BLET Midwest Regional Chairman-Amtrak General Committee of Adjustment.
Amtrak operates the daily Borealis service under contracts with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was instrumental in helping to secure finding for the new service, along with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).