St. Paul, Milwaukee, Chicago Corridor service H2 2024

[Stevenz]

Yes, that’s right. Thanks for the correction. But with up to 26 possible stops between Kenosha and downtown it seems like walking speed. It works OK for the shorter runs as you say and I would expect that’s typical of ridership until the nearer stations such as from Evanston on down when it is a more practical commute time. But what you give up in time you get a cheap fare relative to, well, any other option.

 

[Amtrak25]

When Wisconsin's former governor Walker killed the Madison extension, that same veto killed the Milwaukee - Kenosha commuter service proposal. Wisconsin has also prohibited the creation of regional public transit systems, just to stick with the municipal or county bus ones they have, and disallowed the Milwaukee street car system as basis for or morphing into a light rail interurban into the suburbs.

There are too many Sean Duffy's in the legislature. I can only see Wisconsin adding frequencies on the existing route, not adding not new routes.

 

[ryanwc]

Sure. I would note that with limited stops, the Hiawathas themselves aren’t of much value to anyone north of downtown who doesn’t live within a couple miles of Glenview, unless they actually have no car.

 

[MikefromCrete]

Sure. I would note that with limited stops, the Hiawathas themselves aren’t of much value to anyone north of downtown who doesn’t live within a couple miles of Glenview, unless they actually have no car.

Wow. you're writing off one of Amtrak's most successful routes just because it doesn't stop every five minutes.

 

[Amtrak25]

Sure. I would note that with limited stops, the Hiawathas themselves aren’t of much value to anyone north of downtown who doesn’t live within a couple miles of Glenview, unless they actually have no car.

Would a Morton Grove stop rather than Glenview make more sense ?

 

[TransitTyrant]

When Wisconsin's former governor Walker killed the Madison extension, that same veto killed the Milwaukee - Kenosha commuter service proposal. Wisconsin has also prohibited the creation of regional public transit systems, just to stick with the municipal or county bus ones they have, and disallowed the Milwaukee street car system as basis for or morphing into a light rail interurban into the suburbs.

There are too many Sean Duffy's in the legislature. I can only see Wisconsin adding frequencies on the existing route, not adding not new routes.

The Wisconsin legislature flipped pretty significantly towards the Dems this past election. Republicans still have an edge in both chambers but the gap is much smaller now. A Trump 26 midterm also means Wisconsin Democrats have a better chance of seizing both chambers.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Yes, that’s right. Thanks for the correction. But with up to 26 possible stops between Kenosha and downtown it seems like walking speed. It works OK for the shorter runs as you say and I would expect that’s typical of ridership until the nearer stations such as from Evanston on down when it is a more practical commute time. But what you give up in time you get a cheap fare relative to, well, any other option.

Typically the inbound trains were full by the time they reached the Chicago city limits, which is Evanston. Historically there were only three stops within the City, now 4 (unless I'm forgetting some). Part of the reasoning for extending Metra to Milwaukee was for commuting within Wisconsin as well as general connectivity from the lakefront cities both north and south.

 

[Amtrak25]

There were once 2 interurban railways plus C&NW. Since 1971, there has been nothing.

I am not sure if these Milwaukee - Kenosha trains would have been extended METRA trains from Chicago, or run as a separate service, like Metrolink and Coaster at Oceanside.

There are Wisconsin Coach (Coach USA) buses that connect with Metra, but not sure if Metra trains hold for late southbound buses. When I visited Milwaukee in 2012, I was afraid to chance it, with the next train being 8 hours later.

 

[ryanwc]

Wow. you're writing off one of Amtrak's most successful routes just because it doesn't stop every five minutes.

Don't be ridiculous. I'm saying it's not of much value to a certain large group of Chicagoans. Which is absolutely true.

It's also of great value to others.

I'm just describing the market. There's a reason that a Metra line going all the way to Milwaukee might be more useful to people on the north side or in north suburbs close to Metra than an Amtrak route that they could only catch by heading south into the city or by driving to Glenview.

 

[Amtrak25]

1970 Railpax route makers agonized over to whether to use the more populated and slower C&NW over the MILW. They frowned upon the C&NW in general since it is difficult for such trains to access CUS. There was much criticism at the time over favoring Sturtevant (then in God's country) over Waukegan, Kenosha, and Racine and Glenview over Evanston.

 

[GariYaMoshi]

We are getting ready to take the Borealis to Chicago to meet up with a LD train - has anyone had any issues with bringing carry-on luggage (which meet the Amtrak standards) on the train? I am getting stressed out enough with the potential weather issues on the routes we are taking and want to put my mind at ease on the luggage.

I didn't find the on-line chat on the Amtrak website as helpful as I hoped.

 

[railiner]

1970 Railpax route makers agonized over to whether to use the more populated and slower C&NW over the MILW. They frowned upon the C&NW in general since it is difficult for such trains to access CUS. There was much criticism at the time over favoring Sturtevant (then in God's country) over Waukegan, Kenosha, and Racine and Glenview over Evanston.

Another stop with great potential for Amtrak would have been the Great Lakes Naval training center, especially back in 1971…

 

[Anthony V]

Don't be ridiculous. I'm saying it's not of much value to a certain large group of Chicagoans. Which is absolutely true.

It's also of great value to others.

I'm just describing the market. There's a reason that a Metra line going all the way to Milwaukee might be more useful to people on the north side or in north suburbs close to Metra than an Amtrak route that they could only catch by heading south into the city or by driving to Glenview.

Gurnee would be a good place to add a stop on the Hiawatha service, not only to improve access to Amtrak for those in the northern suburbs closer to the border, but to provide an additional transportation option for the thousands of tourists who visit Six Flags Great America annually. Additionally, Amtrak building a station in Gurnee now would eliminate the need to build a station there in the future if Metra's 20+ year old proposal to extend service on the Milwaukee District North Line north of Rondout comes to fruition.