In mid-2004 Minneapolis and vicinity joined the list of American
metropolitan areas operating electric light rail transit. The
Hiawatha Line runs over twelve miles between downtown and Bloomington to the
south, where its terminal is at the nation's largest shopping center, Mall of America. Two stations
serve the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport along the way.
There are a total of eighteen stops on the single route, with one
further intermediate one under construction. The line is operated by Metro Transit, which also
runs the area's comprehensive bus network and Northstar commuter rail
service.
This series will take a quick tour outbound, then come back to downtown
to start a much more leisurely review out to the Mall, and will end back
in the heart of town.
The train in this view is not far from reaching the former Minneapolis end of
the line at Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue. |
