Borealis to Receive Additional Superliner Car
Great River Rail Commission
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact:
Great River Rail Commission
Kevin Roggenbuck, Senior Transportation Planner,
Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority
(651) 266-2798
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2026
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has confirmed that Borealis will be receiving a fourth Superliner car in early October. This comes after the train surpassed 500,000 riders in late September, providing a much-needed boost to ridership capacity.
“We are thrilled that Amtrak will add a fourth passenger car to the service in just a few weeks, which allows more Minnesotans access to this safe, reliable transportation option,” MnDOT commissioner Nancy Daubenberger said in a statement. “We are grateful for the strong partnerships with states, local governments, businesses and communities that are vital to the success of Borealis.”
Borealis has struggled with capacity since early 2025, when its Horizon cars were pulled due to safety concerns. This reduced the number of available seats by 25%. In July 2026, Borealis operated with 84% load factor and carried 18,600 riders. The Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers reports Borealis’ limited capacity has reduced ridership by around 28,000 and cut revenue by at least $1.4 million.
The additional Superliner will add around 75 seats to the daily round-trip service, increasing capacity by about 33%. This welcome increase is celebrated by Great River Rail Commission Chair Chris Meyer, who says, “an increase in capacity and ridership benefits everybody.”
The car will go into service westbound on Train #1333 on October 5th, and eastbound on Train #1340 on October 6th.
About the Commission
The Great River Rail Commission is one of the leading voices on passenger rail in Minnesota. The Commission's long-range vision is that Borealis trains demonstrate additional demand that leads to further investment in faster, more frequent passenger train service. More information is available at greatriverrail.org.
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