Reader's View: Outsiders’ view on Duluth train disappointing Phelan played a lot of imagination games in the column about who might want to ride the train from Duluth (and why), supplemented with some Google Maps calculations for driving times. Written By: David Beard, Duluth | 12:00 pm, Apr. 21, 2021 × I was disappointed in the News Tribune for choosing to publish a commentary on April 16 from a writer outside the region regarding the proposed train to Duluth. The “Economist’s View” column, “Duluth train not a better option than driving,” was written by John Phelan of the Golden Valley, Minnesota-based Center of the American Experiment. Phelan played a lot of imagination games in the column about who might want to ride the train from Duluth (and why), supplemented with some Google Maps calculations for driving times. Phelan wrote to tell me what I want and need.