TCMC: Twin Cities – Milwaukee – Chicago

Great news! Funding commitments are now in place to make the infrastructure investments needed to add a second Amtrak train between the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, and Chicago. Stay tuned as Amtrak, Wisconsin, and Minnesota work to bring more sustainable and efficient travel options to the region.

The Wisconsin and Minnesota Departments of Transportation jointly envision an additional daily frequency between the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Chicago and future expanded service in the region. The vision includes extending three Chicago – Milwaukee Hiawatha round trips to Minneapolis – St. Paul. Trips would be split between two routes, one via La Crosse, WI, the other via Eau Claire, WI. Amtrak’s Empire Builder provides a fourth daily trip via the existing La Crosse route.

The TCMC corridor is an approximately 418-mile rail corridor connecting the major metropolitan regions of Minneapolis and St. Paul (Twin Cities), Milwaukee, and Chicago and providing service to many communities in the region. The corridor is currently only served by Amtrak’s long distance Empire Builder service that operates between Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR, which provides one trip per day in each direction, even though the region would benefit from fast, frequent, reliable intercity passenger rail service.

Adding service to the region would improve mobility for underserved communities and provide reliable, efficient, and sustainable transportation to education and employment opportunities along the route. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, since 2000, metro areas along the route like the Twin Cities have added nearly  300,000 jobs  to its economy. The Milwaukee metro area added  40,000 jobs  to its economy. The new corridor would also allow for better connection for many Fortune 500 companies and colleges in the region. 

• Chicago, IL
• Glenview, IL
• Sturtevant, WI
• Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, WI
• Milwaukee, WI
• Portage, WI
• Wisconsin Dells, WI
• Tomah, WI
• La Crosse, WI
• Winona, MN
• Red Wing, MN
• St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN

Future service would be provided over two routes: one via La Crosse, WI, and the other via Eau Claire, WI.

• Chicago, IL
• Glenview, IL
• Sturtevant, WI
• Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, WI
• Milwaukee, WI
• Oconomowoc, WI (NEW)
• Watertown, WI (NEW)
• Madison, WI (NEW)
• Portage, WI
• Wisconsin Dells, WI
• Camp Douglas, WI (NEW)
• Eau Claire, WI (NEW)
• Menomonie, WI (NEW)
• Hudson, WI (NEW)
• Tomah, WI
• La Crosse, WI
• Winona, MN
• Red Wing, MN
• St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN

Much of the travel between Chicago and the Twin Cities is currently completed by airplane. For small cities and towns along the route, most people must take Interstate 90.  

According to INRX’s 2019 mobility  report , Chicago was ranked the second worst city in the country in terms of traffic congestion. The average Chicagoan spent 145 hours in traffic for the year and cost drivers over $2,000 in fuel expenses. Similarly, the Twin Cities were ranked by  INRX  has the 23rd most congested city in the country, with the average driver spending over 50 hours a year stuck in traffic.

Amtrak corridor service would reduce congestion between the Twin Cities and Chicago, saving passengers time and money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At station stops in major cities, passengers will be able to transfer to public transit options like Chicago’s “L” subway system and the Twin Cities’ METRO light rail system to continue their travels.

A Twin Cities - Chicago Amtrak service would create new connections between major metropolitan cities, medium-sized cities, and colleges and universities. Students, their families, faculty, and staff will be able to take advantage of frequent Amtrak service to avoid traffic between destinations and to enjoy greater productivity or relaxation while they travel.

Colleges and universities served by the Twin Cities – Chicago corridor include:

• University of Illinois- Chicago (Student Population: 34,000)
• DePaul University (Student Population: 22,000)
• Columbia College Chicago (Student Population: 6,000)
• Loyola University Chicago (Student Population: 15,000)
• University of Chicago (Student Population: 17,000)
• Northwestern University (Student Population: 21,000)
• University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (Student Population: 27,000)
• Alverno College (Student Population: 2,600)
• University of Wisconsin – Madison (Student Population: 44,000)
• Edgewood College (Student Population: 2,700)
• University of Wisconsin – La Crosse (Student Population: 9,500)
• Viterbo University (Student Population: 1,800)
• University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire (Student Population: 9,800)
• University of Wisconsin – Stout (Student Population: 6,900)
• University of Wisconsin – River Falls (Student Population: 5,400)
• University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Student Population: 51,000)
• Macalester College (Student Population: 2,100)
• University of St. Thomas – Minnesota (Student Population: 10,000)
• Anoka Ramsey Community College (Student Population: 4,600)
• Hamline University (Student Population: 3,200)

“ 2nd daily St. Paul-to-Chicago Amtrak train expected in 2024 .” Star Tribune, AP. Jun 30, 2021.

" Biden plan could boost Amtrak potential to Chicago, Duluth ." Star Tribune, Janet Moore. Apr 10, 2021.

" Amtrak seeks to add new routes from Twin Cities to Duluth, Wisconsin cities ." Bring Me the News, Melissa Turtinen. Apr 1, 2021.

 Plans For Second Passenger Rail Line From Chicago To Twin Cities Chugging Along . Wisconsin Public Radio, Corrinne Hess. Mar 31, 2021.