Editing Northstar Line (section)

== Construction and operation ==
[[File:NorthstarRailDowntownMinneapolisBallpark1.JPG|thumb|left|The platforms at Target Field under construction in 2009]]
The [[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] (Mn/DOT) and the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) studied options for development of the corridor to handle the increasing commuter load and felt that a commuter rail line was the best option. It was expected to cost about US$265 million in 2008 dollars, estimated to be less than one-third the cost of upgrading existing highways,<ref name="why2008">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604125948/http://www.northstartrain.org/why.html|title=Why Northstar Commuter Rail?|work=Northstar Commuter Rail|publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation and Northstar Corridor Development Authority|archive-date=June 4, 2008|access-date=February 11, 2010|url=http://www.northstartrain.org/why.html}}</ref><ref name="facts2007">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927111658/http://www.northstartrain.org/facts.html|title=Facts and Figures|work=Northstar Commuter Rail|publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation and Northstar Corridor Development Authority|archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=February 11, 2010|url=http://www.northstartrain.org/facts.html}}</ref> though the cost would later climb to $317 million.<ref name="st20091127">{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/local/west/75208982.html|title=Now riders and nonriders can add up value of Northstar|date=November 27, 2009|author=Jim Foti|access-date=January 5, 2010|work=Star Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201182626/http://www.startribune.com/local/west/75208982.html|archive-date=December 1, 2009}}</ref> Because almost all of the route being used already existed, the investment mostly went into building new stations, upgrading track, enhancing the safety of crossings, and updating signals. A significant portion of the funds were to extend the [[METRO Blue Line]] to the [[Target Field station]] on the west side of [[Interstate 394]] and 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis. This terminal station is integrated into the [[Minnesota Twins]]' new ballpark, [[Target Field]], which opened in March 2010.

During normal operation, the line had six trains running in the morning and evening [[rush hour]] periods, and limited service on [[weekends]] and holidays. [[Bus]] feeder lines, including the '''Northstar Link''' from St. Cloud to [[Big Lake station]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catchthelink.com|title=Northstar Link Commuter Bus|work=CatchTheLink.com|publisher=Northstar Corridor Development Authority, Sherburne County, Stearns County|access-date=February 11, 2010}}</ref> bring residents along the corridor to the nearest train station. Once in downtown, commuters can walk upstairs to the METRO Blue and Green Lines, take a bus into other areas of the city, or go into one of the nearby buildings integrated into the [[Minneapolis Skyway System|Minneapolis skyway system]]. In the first year, 2010, Metro Ridership fell well short of its goal of 3,400 weekday trips from this station. Metro Transit has a goal for of 5,900 by 2030<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrotransit.org/Northstar/facts.asp|title=Northstar facts and funding|publisher=Metro Transit|access-date=February 11, 2010}}</ref> intending to save those commuters 900,000 hours over the course of a year when compared to taking a dedicated bus line.<ref name="why2008" />

From its opening until January 2014, Northstar trains arrived on time for 96 percent of trips making it one of the most reliable services from Metro Transit. Starting in the winter of 2014, on-time performance suffered due to heavy freight traffic and severe cold weather. By the end of February 2014, on-time reliability was down to 74 percent.<ref name=BNSF_Cold /> Freight traffic from the [[North Dakota oil boom]] contributed to congestion and delays for trains. The delays were also felt by the [[Amtrak]] ''[[Empire Builder]]'' route which travels through the same corridor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Paul |title=Freight traffic disrupting Northstar |work=Star Tribune |date=February 25, 2014 | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101215487/freight-traffic-disrupting-northstar/ |access-date=May 6, 2022}}</ref> Delays were severe enough for legislators to hold a public hearing at the State Capitol with BNSF in attendance.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harlow |first1=Tim |title=Northstar delays get Capitol hearing |work=Star Tribune |date=February 26, 2014|url=https://www.startribune.com/northstar-delays-get-capitol-hearing/247176771/ |access-date=May 6, 2022}}</ref> During the hearing, BNSF stated that delays were due to cold weather and not freight traffic. The cold weather caused mechanical issues and limited how long crews could work outside.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=Curtis |title=BNSF: Cold, not oil trains, delaying Northstar |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/02/27/bnsf-cold-not-oil-trains-delaying-northstar-commuter-rail |work=MPR News |date=February 27, 2014 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=BNSF_Cold>{{cite news |last1=Harlow |first1=Tim |title=BNSF: Blame the weather, not oil trains, for Northstar's delays |work=Star Tribune |date=February 28, 2014 |url=https://www.startribune.com/bnsf-blame-weather-not-oil-trains-for-northstar-line-s-delays/247613111/ |access-date=May 6, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sommerhauser |first1=Mark |title=BNSF official says weather, not oil trains, caused Northstar woes |work=[[St. Cloud Times]] |date=February 28, 2014 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101215960/bnsf-official-says-weather-not-oil-trai/ |access-date=May 6, 2022 |pages =[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101215960/bnsf-official-says-weather-not-oil-trai/ 1A], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101216193/bnsf-official-says-weather-not-oil-trai/ 5A]}}</ref> BNSF spent money on repairs and maintenance along the corridor over 2014, which included replacing ties, switches, and adding switch covers which would protect switches from ice and snow.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Prather |first1=Shannon |title=Northstar struggles with delays, dip in ridership |work=Star Tribune |date=November 16, 2014| url = https://www.startribune.com/northstar-struggles-with-delays-dip-in-ridership/282829541/ |access-date=May 6, 2022}}</ref> While January through October 2014 saw trains arriving on-time just 65.7 percent of the time, during the month of December trains were back to 95 percent on-time performance. Metro Transit offered refunds to customers whose trains were more than 10 minutes late in January and February 2015 in an effort to draw back ridership. During January 2015 trips were on time 98% of the time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harlow |first1=Tim |title=Northstar riders get money-back guarantee |work=Star Tribune |date=December 19, 2014 |url = https://www.startribune.com/northstar-commuters-get-money-back-guarantee/286292991/ |access-date=May 6, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Harlow |first1=Tim |title=Money-back guarantee on Northstar extended through February |url=https://www.startribune.com/money-back-guarantee-on-northstar-extended-through-february/290233801/ |access-date=May 6, 2022 |work=Star Tribune |date=January 29, 2015}}</ref>