Northstar Commuter Rail

Placeholder. Northstar's full arc — 1997 study, 2009 opening, the persistent ridership questions, the 2026 closure — needs its own essay.

Northstar ran from 2009-11-16 to 2026-01-04 along 40 miles of BNSF Northern Subdivision track, connecting Big Lake to Target Field Station via Elk River, Anoka, Coon Rapids–Riverdale, and Fridley.