Northstar Rail expected to transport 5-6,000 commuters daily beginning November 2009 from Northern Twin Cities Suburbs and Exurbs to Minneapolis /St. Paul.

Minneapolis — March 12, 2000

Today, at the first Heavy Rail commuter system in Minnesota, an MTU Onsite Energy 1,250kW generator is commissioned. The generator is ready to supply emergency power to the Big Lake, Minnesota terminal of the new commuter train service connecting communities in central Minnesota to the Minneapolis /St. Paul Metro area. 

Tim Stalpes, Generator Sales Engineer Power Generation, Interstate Power Systems Minneapolis Office worked closely with Minnesota State Engineers, Sebesta Blomberg  Consulting Engineers, St. Paul, MN and Design Electric, St. Cloud, MN to develop an emergency backup system that will completely support the platform and train engine roundhouse for the commuter rail operations in the event of a utility power outage. The final design resulted in Interstate PowerSystems supplying an MTU 12v Series 4000 1250kW Diesel generator set in an all aluminum walk in enclosure. The system was fully commission by Interstate technicians Stan Harms and Steve Pratt under the supervision of Sebesta Blomberg Engineering, and passed extensive testing requirements.

David Walch, Interstate GM of Power Systems, was on hand for the final testing and says, “ …the collaborative efforts of the IPS sales and service departments made for an impressive showing throughout the project, all site agents, contractors and engineers on hand were very impressed, the respective departments and the company should be very proud.”