Passenger rail line from Twin Cities to Duluth, MN proposed

[Snowguy716]

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1045256.html

I'm putting this here and not in the Minnesota thread, because I think this is a perfect example of the steam that passenger rail in this country is gaining. This proposal would restore Amtrak passenger rail from Minneapolis to Duluth along the "Rush Line Corridor" with top speeds of 79mph, compared to the earlier line (discontinued in 1985) of 50mph.

The controversy is that some think it could cut into a proposed commuter rail line and would be competing for funding at the state level.

Are there any new intercity passenger rail proposals in your area? Do you think this one is a good idea?

[monsoon]

North Carolina has had a state sponsored rail road between Charlotte and Raleigh (and all the cities in between) for the 12 or so years. The NCDOT has also been active in preserving RR ROW for future rail service that would eventually cross the entire state from Asheville to Wilmington.

Their website is http://www.bytrain.org