Passenger Rail Ridership Surges Along Mississippi River Corridor
- GRR Admin
- 1 minute ago
- 2 min read
Amtrak's Borealis and Empire Builder passenger rail routes are experiencing a remarkable rebound across the Minnesota and Wisconsin train stations, with passenger counts in 2025 reaching levels well above pre-pandemic figures at every stop along the upper Mississippi corridor.
The busiest station in the region, Union Depot in St. Paul, recorded 199,613 arrivals and departures in 2025 — more than double its 2019 total of 90,961 and a significant jump even from 2024's 126,421. Chicago remains the dominant destination for Twin Cities riders, drawing 87,153 passengers, followed by Milwaukee at 27,745 and La Crosse at 10,426.
Smaller stations are telling the same story. La Crosse reached 39,963 passengers in 2025, up from 29,832 the year before. Red Wing — a scenic stop just 40 miles from St. Paul — more than doubled its 2023 ridership to reach 21,666, with nearly 60 percent of its riders traveling short-haul distances under 178 miles. Winona posted 23,673 passengers, its highest total in the decade covered by the data.
"The numbers we're seeing across this corridor are a clear signal that people want this service," said Chris Meyer, Chair of the Great River Rail Commission. "These aren't just statistics — they represent thousands of travelers choosing the train to connect communities along the Mississippi. We need to build on this momentum and invest in the frequency and reliability that will keep ridership growing."
The data, compiled by the Rail Passengers Association, also highlights the stations' economic reach. Revenue destinations stretch far beyond the Midwest, with Seattle, Portland, and Whitefish, Montana all appearing among the top revenue-generating routes for multiple stations — a sign that Borealis and Empire Builder continue to function as a true long-distance connector, not merely a regional commuter link.
About the CommissionÂ
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.
