The public is invited to attend an open house regarding the southern rail corridor feasibility study.

The open house will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Rochester International Airport Event Center, 7333 Airport View Drive SW.

There will be a presentation at 6 p.m. followed by questions and answers. Throughout the open house, information tables will be set up for the public to ask questions and learn more about the study, which is a freight rail planning project to evaluate the need to mitigate or relocate the existing Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad freight rail line in Rochester to accommodate a potential increase in train traffic.

The debate could impact Albert Lea. The DM&E line through Rochester goes through Owatonna and Mankato, but the railroad has a more southerly route through Albert Lea, Wells and Fairmont and it is mentioned as an alternative to taking coal trains through Rochester.