New Passenger Train To Connect Minnesota + Wisconsin Cities To Chicago

Minnesota and Wisconsin residents will find it more convenient to connect to Chicago, as well as several other cities along the way once a new passenger train is put into service next year.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation first shared the news of a new passenger connecting the Twin Cities to Chicago in early November, saying the train would provide a second round-trip each day between St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Chicago, with multiple stops along the way.

At that time, they reached out to the public asking if they would utilize the service and what amenities they'd like available on the train.

Then, on Friday, November 17, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation shared similar information, adding that Wisconsin will be the center of this new passenger train. This additional service is the result of a partnership among the Federal Railroad Administration, the state DOTs, host railroads, and Amtrak.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation adds that one of their goals with this service to to reduce travel times, potentially through an increase in maximum speed to 90 MPH between Rondout, Illinois, and the General Mitchell International Airport (GMIA).

WXOW-TV reports that while the train will provide service along the Twin Cities – Milwaukee – Chicago corridor, it will also run through La Crosse, Wisconsin Dells, and Portage, and connect to Madison.

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Ultimately, the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago (TCMC) Intercity Passenger Rail Project will add a second daily round-trip passenger train on the 411-mile corridor between Chicago, Illinois, and the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

The TCMC Service will follow Amtrak's existing long-distance Empire Builder route, complementing the existing Empire Builder schedule. Having both a morning and mid-departure will provide travel flexibility between Chicago and St. Paul.

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As for the name of this new service, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation says that it will be announced once everything is finalized.