Potentially $150 million for next Chicago to Milwaukee Amtrak upgrade.

[CMStPnP]

So this is the first time I have seen an estimated cost for increasing from seven to 10 trains each way a day.    I am curious what it includes beyond adding a Southbound platform and aerlal pedestrian crossover at the Milwaukee Airport Station.

https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-illinois-taking-input-amtrak-expansion-between-milwaukee-chicago

I don't think $150 million will get joe lunch pail and the Metra Express out of the way though.    Doesn't seem like enough.

 

[CMStPnP]

Ah, here is the long-range plan to 2050.    They mention Amtrak rail service to Green Bay, WI via Fond Du Lac, Oshkosh, etc, which I think might be quite a ways out.....

https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/Details/L18398

 

[schlimm]

CMStPnP

So this is the first time I have seen an estimated cost for increasing from seven to 10 trains each way a day.    I am curious what it includes beyond adding a Southbound platform and aerlal pedestrian crossover at the Milwaukee Airport Station.

https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-illinois-taking-input-amtrak-expansion-between-milwaukee-chicago

I don't think $150 million will get joe lunch pail and the Metra Express out of the way though.    Doesn't seem like enough.

 

 

Given that Illinois (read Chicago suburban) voters will have to pony up for a pretty good portion of the state's share, calling the typically managerial/executive class commuters (who pay a lot of taxes and often have influence) on the four Metra lines in question "Joe lunch pail" is a wise strategy.

Otherwise, the plan seems sensible, although the devil's in the details.

[MidlandMike]

The WPR article said:

The expansion could cost as much as $150 million because additional rail sidings, platforms and crossovers would be needed, Rao said. That's partly to keep the Amtrak trains on-time and separate from increased freight traffic, such as crude oil trains, he said. 

All's I hear is that crude-by-rail continues to decrease.  Is the Milwaukee line an exception?

[CMStPnP]

MidlandMike

All's I hear is that crude-by-rail continues to decrease.  Is the Milwaukee line an exception?

I know CP Rail has more than one crude oil train on the line but other than that, I have no clue as to how many total or if it is increasing or decreasing.    It's too bad Ed King isn't around these parts anymore, he was a current or former CP Rail Dispatcher out of Milwaukee (and Trains contributor) and could find out.