advertisement

---

Yesterday, the Southeast Minnesota Rail Alliance unveiled a brand name for the proposed high-speed rail line between Rochester and the Twin Cities: Zip Rail.

Alliance members are working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to “develop Zip Rail as a true high-speed passenger corridor aimed at peak travel times,” according to a prepared statement.

The alliance also has unveiled a new website, www.goziprail.org, that includes information and news about the project.

Zip Rail trains would run on dedicated tracks at speeds between 150 mph and 220 mph from downtown Rochester, north through Dakota County and connect to the Twin Cities. Preliminary construction estimates for the line are $973 million. The alliance expects to receive funding from a mix of federal, state and local sources.

Since its formation in 2008, the alliance has been working to increase support in the Rochester region for a high-speed passenger-rail line.