Amtrack and parking

Has anyone ever taken the train out east from Minneapolis? We are looking into it for an upcoming trip and we are what kind of parking if offered at or near the Amtrack station. Is ther long term parking? Any other information about using the train would also be helpful. Thanks!

Amtrack and parking

Doesn%26#39;t the train going east to Chicago go through Tomah too? That might be easier than back tracking to the Twin Cities. Or even going down to La Crosse.

We%26#39;ve taken the train west to Seattle and our daughter was a regular train cummuter to UND in Grand Forks. Between trains there is plenty of parking at the Twin Cities station (in the Midway area between Mpls and St. Paul) but it can get very full right at train time. Never really noted anything posted about long term parking or time limits. The Amtrak web site does not mention parking term limits. Main thing is that there are only two trains a day (one east and one west) so not much activity to deter crime although the station itself is open 6am to midnight. Personally I would not feel safe parking there long term but it is probably not much worse than the airport. At least it is free.

The train eastward departs at 7:30AM or so. From Tomah it departs at 11:30am which beats driving very early in the morning (or staying overnight) to get to the MSP station. The Empire Builder terminates in Chicago so any farther east from there would require a transfer.

Amtrack and parking

Thanks for the info, we thought about tomah but Minneapolis is closer to us. Good to know that the parking for at least long term may not be so safe. Maybe we can find someone to drop us off or we could do a park and ';fly'; at a hotel but just go to the train station instead. Something to think about.....

I just confirmed with Amtrak, and a few co-workers too: Long term parking at the St. Paul Midway Amtrak station is free to ticketed passengers. Parking requires a permit, which you get from the ticket agent when you check in. Parking is free for the duration of your ticketed trip.

I think this may have made my father-in-law (cab-in-law) very happy.

Are you still planning this trip? Yes, long-term parking is free at the Twin Cities station with a pass you get from the ticket agent. It%26#39;s very easy. I don%26#39;t know if Menomonie is closer to Red Wing, but I think the Amtrak has a stop there or nearby, too. No idea what the parking situation is like there.

Woo Woo! Amtrak....just be prepared, this winter has been pretty rough on their schedules. BE SURE to always call ahead.

The parking at Midway Station in MSP is pretty good. However, it is a quiet, out of the way area, so please do not leave any valuables in your car to tempt anyone.

Just an FYI, there are also stops in Redwing, MN, (not attended so you can%26#39;t check bags), Winona, MN, and Lacrosse, WI.

If you do leave from MSP and happen to get delayed and/or stranded. There%26#39;s a Days Inn very near...it%26#39;s not the fanciest hotel, but they are very reasonable and last time I stayed there (when my train was 24 hours late--don%26#39;t mean to scare you) they let me check out at 5 pm without paying any extra. They are VERY helpful.

Hope all goes well!

Thanks for all the help from everyone. I%26#39;m getting a little concerned over all the talk about delayed trains. We are planning on going in thesummr are trains often delayed then or is it just mainly in the winter?

I haven%26#39;t often had a delayed train in the summertime....so you should have better luck during that time of year. It can be full during the summer season, however, so make sure to get your tickets well ahead of time.

When I travel in the summer, I%26#39;ve never had a train delayed more than an hour, though I know it can happen. Since Amtrak uses freight rail lines, sometimes those freight trains take priority. Since St. Paul is a very long stop, the train can often make up time here. So even if it arrives late, it can leave closer to on-time.

Last summer, flooding closed the line for several days and Amtrak had to bus people into Wisconsin, but that was a very odd case.