Council hears update: Amtrak suspends some routes after rolling-stock corrosion; Borealis service to Chicago suspended indefinitely

Metropolitan Council staff told the council on March 26 that Amtrak has removed several trainsets from service because of corrosion and related safety risks, an action that has suspended the Borealis train route to Chicago "indefinitely," the regional administrator said.

Why it matters: the suspension interrupts a key intercity connection at Union Depot and may affect spring-break and summer travel planning; staff said Amtrak indicated some affected trips may be replaced by buses but the timeline for restoring rail service is unknown.

What the council was told

The regional administrator reported that Amtrak discovered corrosion issues in certain rolling stock and consequently pulled multiple runs from service; the Borealis train service was described as "indefinitely suspended" in the information passed to staff. The administrator said the announcement was recent and that Amtrak's communications did not fully anticipate local agency needs; council staff will monitor developments and report updates as they learn more.

Next steps

Staff said affected services appear to be replaced in part by bus service in the short term, but the duration and scope of the suspension remain uncertain. The council will monitor Amtrak communications and update Union Depot partners as information becomes available.