Regional Rail to acquire Minnesota Commercial Railway

Regional Rail to acquire Minnesota Commercial Railway

By Bill Stephens | May 2, 2025

| Last updated on August 6, 2025


The deal is expected to close on June 1

Red locomotive with white nose strips and short string of freight cars
Minnesota Commercial SF30B No. 42 hauls a short string of freight cars. Chris Guss

WASHINGTON — Short line holding company Regional Rail is acquiring the Minnesota Commercial Railway, which operates 86 miles of trackage around the Twin Cities.

“The transaction will promote Regional Rail’s strategic and growth objectives, and help sustain MNNR’s efficiency, financial strength, and ability to meet the needs of shippers,” Regional Rail said in a regulatory filing today (May 2, 2025).

Minnesota Commercial is currently controlled by The Rebecca G. Gohmann Trust. The deal is expected to close on or around June 1.

The railroad serves manufacturers, warehouses, lumber and steel transloads, and grain mills. It also operates a multi-commodity transload facility.

Minnesota Commercial Railway system map. MNNR

Minnesota Commercial Railway is located in the Midway between Minneapolis and St. Paul. It interchanges with BNSF, CPKC, Union Pacific, Canadian National, and Twin Cities & Western.

Regional Rail told the Surface Transportation Board that no significant changes in MNNR’s operations are contemplated as a result of the transaction, which is exempt from board review.

Regional Rail says in the filing that it operates 13 other railroads. They are primarily in the Eastern U.S.

Regional Rail will control 14 short lines after acquiring Minnesota Commercial Railway. Regional Rail
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