Amtrak to Green Bay Proposal

https://www.wbay.com/2023/01/05/green-b ... utType=amp

Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford’s office says city leaders from Green Bay, Kaukauna, Appleton, Menasha, Neenah, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac submitted a “joint letter of interest” to show their interest in add Amtrak train service in their cities through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

““Everybody benefits. This is a once in a lifetime… once in a generation… opportunity,” Municipal and Legislative Liaison with Northeast Wisconsin Rails (NEWRails) Larry Rueff said.

That law created an initiative for Amtrak to identify and develop new corridors, and Amtrak has proposed three daily round-trips from Chicago to Green Bay with its Hiawatha line, which currently connects Chicago and Milwaukee.

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eolesen wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:27 am ...
The Air Line is severed between West Bend and Fond Du Lac, about 22 miles of missing track that's been converted to a state trail. Not insurmountable to see that reinstated, but it wouldn't come cheap.

The state may eventually want it back:

Washington County Insider

Will the railroad return through West Bend, as State DOT targets rail line in 2030

West Bend, Wi – The Eisenbahn State Trail was established in April 2006. Formerly an active rail line, home to the Fox Valley Railroad, there was always the possibility the State DOT could take the stretch over again and install a viable rail line.
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“There is no current or it at this point and even anticipated applications to reestablish rail service through the trail corridor,” said Stern. “Probably half of the community will be happy, and the other half was anticipating a train.”
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I'll believe it when I can buy a ticket.

Wisconsin has put a lot of money into freight rail. This might actually happen.

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eolesen wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 10:52 am Wisconsin has put a lot of money into freight rail. This might actually happen.

I live in Wisconsin. I would love to see it happen.

But.. "I'll believe it when I can buy a ticket" definitely applies.

Don't disagree, but given how some of the lines that have reappeared over the last few years as part of the state freight rail plan, I can see the logic between having an alternate line *for freight* between the Fox Valley and Milwaukee.

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It would be interesting to find out what the highway trucks are doing to the roads. Reduce maintenance on roads with removed trucks to trains? Michigan's intrastate truck weights a prime example.

Corridor ID: Green Bay Press Gazette

Wisconsin gets $2.5 million to study Amtrak expansion from Milwaukee to Green Bay, Madison

State and local officials received five $500,000 federal grants to study expanding Amtrak passenger rail service from Milwaukee to Chicago, Green Bay, Madison, Eau Claire and the Twin Cities.
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Three of the routes selected would be new train service out of Milwaukee — to Green Bay, Madison and Eau Claire. The other two awards will explore expanding Amtrak's existing Hiawatha schedule between Milwaukee and Chicago and its Empire Builder schedule line between Chicago and the Twin Cities via La Crosse.
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Milwaukee to Green Bay: Extend the current Chicago-to-Milwaukee Hiawatha service north to include stops in Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton and Green Bay.
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NFL Draft Service: Fox11Online.com

Push for Amtrak passenger train services in Green Bay continues with NFL Draft on the way

GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- The last passenger service left Green Bay in 1971. But could Green Bay's 2025 NFL Draft be the driving force behind its comeback, even if just temporarily?
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"We are in discussions with Amtrak and we're hopeful that for the draft next spring, we will have Amtrak service up from Milwaukee for the draft. That would be a great way to introduce people to train service," Murphy said on Thursday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the National Railroad Museum's $15 million expansion.
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That would be a great option if it can come together. Demand for hotel rooms in Green Bay - Appleton are going to exceed capacity. It would really need to have a couple runs thru the day to be useful, including late night returns from Green Bay south.

The legacy depot really can't handle anything anymore (it's a privately owned restaurant now), but it would be fairly easy to set up a temporary platform area along Lombardi and Ashland Ave, which is walking distance from the Titletown district.

The CN is a single-line main thru that area, so it really wouldn't matter if you blocked things at Dousman Street or Lombardi Ave.

This would be awesome, but "I'll believe it when I can buy a ticket." applies as always.

Special train(s) for 2025 draft?
1. Amtrak probably will not have enough spare passenger cars in one year.
2. Amtrak would not want to spend all the money to qualify T & E for just a few days trains? Even using Pilot crew members from the freight RR would not have enough persons to make it possible?

It doesn't have to be Amtrak... This would have been a tailor-made Iowa Pacific type operation.