GREEN BAY, Wis. — Amtrak has begun offering bus service between Green Bay and Milwaukee, connecting with its Amtrak Hiawatha service at two stations in Milwaukee. The new Amtrak Thruway bus service began Monday, offering two round trips between...
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2019/07/02-amtrak-begins-green-bay-milwaukee-bus-service
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
I had a project in De Pier (Sp?) near Green Bay. Flew Boston - Midway, taxi to Roosevelt Road, Electroliner to Milwaukee, trolleybus to lakeside, and double-deck C&NW to Greem Bay. St. Norbert's (Sp?) Abbey. The diner was single-level but had a false roof to match the gallary cars. The long-distance gallary cars had reclining seats, and half of one car was a parlor car with appropriate seating. I think that was the last time I could ride the North Shore.
Wonder if my sound sysrem is still working after some 58 or 59 years?
This is far better service than Greyhound, had in my view. Because it stops at both the Milwaukee downtown Amtrak station as well as the Milwaukee Airport Amtrak Station.
I just wish they would get Wisconsin Coach Lines to make a stop at the train station for their West Suburban service to Watertown. That service was initially sponsored by WisDOT in lieu of starting West Suburban Rail Service. I realize the Cass St and Wisconsin Ave. stop is more convienent to downtown passengers, it would be real nice if they had an alternative of taking the train to Chicago instead of having to walk the 7 blocks to the train station.
Wouldn't it be sensible to have a stop at Lombardi in football season?
charlie hebdoWouldn't it be sensible to have a stop at Lombardi in football season?
It would be adding a significant dog leg to the bus route as they would have to stay West of the Fox river and then head West a few miles, then make a U turn and head Northeast to the Bus Depot. The Bus Depot is pretty close to the former C&NW Depot though (now called TitleTown Brewing Co. on map locators).
The tracks from Appleton parallel Highway 32 into Green Bay from the South so it might make sense to have a seasonal stop on the same ex-C&NW line at Highway 32 and Lombardi Avenue. That still would require a walk of several blocks to the stadium though but would place a stop as close as possible to the stadium without diverging from the former C&NW train station North of there (now called TitleTown Brewing, Inc). Titletown Brewing or close to it would still be an ideal downtown Depot location due to the proximity to train turning wyes and the available space near the former C&NW depot which is a restaurant now.
Only on game days would the buses (many) go nonstop directly to Lombardi. If the patronage were there, train service might be next?
charlie hebdotrain service might be next?
I don't know. Ask the CN guy on here if Amtrak settled it's lawsuit with CN yet? I have tried to google an answer and can't find one. They have to probably settle whatever the lawsuit is about first.
I think in the list of priorities of WisDOT the below two are further along since the EIS of Green Bay service has probably expired by now it would have to be renewed and for that they would need cooperation of CN:
1. 3 new RT's to Hiawatha Service
2. Morning Hiawatha to Twin Cities to suppliment Empire Builder (last I heard MNDot and WISDot both agreed to move forwards with this but I have no idea on status).
3. I don't think anyone cares about service to Madison anymore but if it ever revives interest again it would be #3.
4. Any work on Green Bay Service beyond the buses. Though with Amtrak now being able to measure patronage better it might make this #2 or #3. Remember that the patronage on the OKC to Newton, KS bus was the original item that got Amtrak to mention to Kansas and Oklahoma they might want to extend the Heartland Flyer.
BTW, surprisingly, the Brewers are marketing the Chicago to Milwaukee service to groups that want to see Brewers games at Miller stadium or in Chicago.....without a bus connection to the stadium and they are having some success. Surprised when I read this in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel not too far back, they had a trip to Milwaukee from Chicago in 2019 not too long ago but it has been going on since 2009 (see below). Perhaps Amtrak should get more involved in these efforts than they are already.
http://archive.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/39501222.html
CMStPnP I don't know. Ask the CN guy on here if Amtrak settled it's lawsuit with CN yet? I have tried to google an answer and can't find one. They have to probably settle whatever the lawsuit is about first.
I hope you don't mean me. I'm from the wrong part of the continent and the wrong department of CN to be 'in the know' about those things.
Do you mean these lawsuits?
https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/03/24-judge-sides-with-freight-carriers-in-amtrak-time-keeping-case
https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/07/14-appeals-court-rejects-on-time-performance-standards
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Probably service from Chicago to Miller would be patronized since a lot of Cubs fans help fill the park.
SD70DudeDo you mean these lawsuits?
There you go, I knew you would find them.
OK, so it looks like the lawsuits are behind them at least. Next step would be the willingness of CN to host Amtrak from Duplainville, WI to Green Bay, WI. and....
if I had to guess that might be a problematic given the working relationship on rail passenger charters is not what it used to be with WC with Amtrak shortly after CN took over the line.
Note there are no more charters to the annual FAA Expo in Oshkosh from Chicago via the 20th Century Railroad Group in Chicago. Part of the reason was track rationalization made layover of the passenger train near impossible anywhere near the dropoff site in Oshkosh. The other part was CN was not as receptive as WC.
I even attempted to inquire about a Charter to Green Bay over CN at one point out of curiousity and Amtrak basically told me to stick with a route in which they regularly ran passenger trains on through Wisconsin.......so that also tells me the era of rare mileage charters via Amtrak is over. Unless you have a inside connection or are more persistent than me.
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