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The ''Northern Lights Express'' (''NLX'') is a proposed higher-speed rail service running along the corridor between Minneapolis and Duluth primarily in the U.S. state of Minnesota. A portion of the line will run through neighboring Wisconsin to serve Duluth's "Twin Port" of Superior. Plans are to upgrade an existing BNSF Railway freight line to allow trains to travel at up to . The train service will provide an alternative to traveling Interstate 35 between Duluth and the Twin Cities or to other destinations along the line such as the casino in Hinckley. The train will mostly follow the same route as Amtrak's former ''North Star'', except that it will originate in Minneapolis rather than neighboring Saint Paul, and it is planned to stop at a suburban Twin Cities station (probably constructed at Metro Transit's Foley Boulevard bus station). The route follows part of the Northstar commuter rail route which opened in 2009, and will contain the entirety of the proposed Bethel Corridor commuter route, although that service is not expected to be operational by the time ''NLX'' opens. ==History== The ''Northern Lights Express'' will be the first passenger rail service to Duluth since 1986, when Amtrak discontinued the ''North Star''.〔 Alternatives analysis and a corridor assessment report were complete as of summer 2010. The line had initially been projected to open as early as 2012,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Proposed Passenger Train 'On Track' )〕 though more recent sources have stated 2013 or 2014 as start dates. As of 2010, the project was entering either an 18-month Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process or a shorter Environmental Assessment (EA) review,〔 but it is unclear which path is being taken. The shorter EA process was strongly advocated by former Rep. James Oberstar, former chairman of the U.S. House Transportation Committee, who represented northern Minnesota. Discussion about the ''Northern Lights Express'' dates back at least a decade. A preliminary feasibility study was conducted around the year 2000, followed by a comprehensive feasibility study in 2006–2007.〔 A joint powers board was established in 2007 consisting of the regional rail authorities for counties along the corridor along with representatives from Minneapolis, Duluth, and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=History of the NLX )〕 The name was given to the line in March 2008 by a vote of the corridor's stakeholders. A feasibility study was completed in late 2007 which evaluated service at speeds of , , and , and service of 8 round trips per day at 110 mph was recommended. The 79 mph option was discarded because it wouldn't attract enough riders to cover operating costs. ''NLX'' supporters hope to receive funds from the Federal Railroad Administration which requires new train projects to show they will operate at a surplus each year, unlike the Federal Transit Administration that funded the Hiawatha and Northstar lines in the Twin Cities.〔 Trains would also operate at a surplus at 125 mph, but higher capital costs and only a modest reduction in travel time made that option look less attractive. The study used the diesel-powered Talgo XXI as a reference, which has poor acceleration above 110 mph〔Minneapolis–Duluth/Superior: Restoration of Intercity Passenger Rail Service Comprehensive Feasibility Study and Business Plan ((ch. 1–2 ), (ch 3 ), (ch 4–10 ), (appendices )). Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc., December 2007. Accessed December 18, 2009.〕 Planning for the line received a big boost at the end of September 2008 when U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced that the federal government would contribute $30 million to passenger rail projects across the country. The contribution included $1.1 million for the ''Northern Lights Express''. On September 9, 2011, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a grant of $5 million to fund environmental and engineering studies for the project. On March 18, 2013, the Environmental Assessment was completed and released on the Minnesota Department of Transportation website.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Northern Lights Express: Proposed passenger rail service between Minneapolis and Duluth, MN )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Northern Lights Express」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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