Train Service in Wisconsin
There are several proposals to add passenger rail service in Wisconsin. This page lists the current proposals by route.
You can help make them a reality by contacting your legislators today. Click here to send an email.
Hiawathas
Amtrak, under contract to the states of Illinois and Wisconsin, operates 7 daily roundtrips between Chicago and Milwaukee.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has proposed making the service hourly. WisDOT has also identified the track improvements needed to cut the travel time from 90 minutes to just over an hour.
The next step is to expand service to 10 daily roundtrips.
Chicago - Milwaukee - Madison
WisDOT has completed the preliminary engineering work needed extend the Hiawatha service to Madison, WI. There would be 7 or 8 daily roundtrips with a trip time of less than 1 hour thirty minutes between Milwaukee and Madison.
WisDOT has received a finding of no significant impact for its proposal to extend service from Milwaukee to Madison. This will require capacity enhancements and track upgrades on the CP-owned Milwaukee - Watertown track. The WisDOT owned trackage west of Watertown will need to be reconstructed for 110 mph cruising speeds. It will also require a new Madison-area station.
Empire Builder
Amtrak operates a single, federally-funded roundtrip from Chicago to St. Paul, Portland and Seattle. It serves six Wisconsin cities. The Midwest High Speed Rail Association would like to see a second round-trip.
Kenosha - Racine - Milwaukee Commuter Rail
The cities of Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine together with Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine counties are jointly promoting new commuter rail service to Milwaukee. This service would compliment the Hiawatha corridor and create economies of scale at Milwaukee.
Chicago - Milwaukee - Green Bay
WisDOT has proposed upgrading the trackage between Milwaukee and Green Bay for passenger service. There would be 4 or 5 daily roundtrips with a trip time of roughly 2 hours and fifteen minutes between Milwaukee and Green Bay.
Chicago - Milwaukee - St. Paul
WisDOT has studied two routes for 110 mph service between Chicago and St. Paul, one via La Crosse and the other via Eau Claire. The study concluded that each route is feasible and that they would compliment each other.
WisDOT has prioritized the La Crosse route. The proposal is for six trains a day in less than 6 hours.
Legislative Action Needed
Soaring gasoline prices are forcing Wisconsin residents to rethink their transportation choices. Passenger trains could play a valuable role in helping you reduce you transportation costs. Unfortunately, the existing rail service cannot meet their needs.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has an excellent plan to expand service throughout the state, but the General Assembly has not appropriated the needed funds. Tell your legislators that you want them to fund the system by clicking here.
For more information:
Wisconsin Department of Transportation rail section
Kenosha - Racine - Milwaukee commuter rail
Download an overview of the Hiawatha Corridor.
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