Amtrak Hiawatha Discussion: Chicago - Milwaukee and Possible Extensions

[Genevasub]

I've heard of the Metra to Milwaukee proposal too, but I think a lot of political, administrative, and financial hurdles have to be cleared first. It'll probably happen eventually, but later than sooner...

[Gilbert B Norman]

Doth we wish to turn the Hiawathas into some kind of commuter train?

Once upon a time, the MILW ran theirs NON-STOP. Glenview was added only after O'Hare became Chicago's main airport, circa 1960.

Sturtevant was an Amtrak era "inovation".

[Genevasub]

Speaking of which, I know I've got the answer to this question lying around in a book or magazine somewhere, but laziness is getting the better of me. But anyway, how many daily MILW Hiawatha trips were there in the pre-Amtrak era?

And with the recent opening of the Milw Airport station, today's Hiawatha really is starting to resemble a commuter service, so you may as well let Amtrak handle it, and leave Metra in its own domain...

[metrarider]

I noticed some interesting figures posted on TO by our own meh, and so I dug up the original source...

during February, ridership on the Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line rose 11%, from 32,808 in February 2004 to 36,317, Adams said. The new station accounts for part of the increase, although it's not yet clear how many passengers are Chicago-area travelers using the airport and how many are Milwaukee-area residents who find the location more convenient than the downtown or Sturtevant depots, he said.

Full story here http://www.jsonline.com/traffic/news/mar05/311371.asp (scroll down to the section 'Curbside Comments' to see the Amtrak related portion of the story)

[fairlane57]

during February, ridership on the Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line rose 11%, from 32,808 in February 2004 to 36,317, Adams said.

.....which is exactly the kind of ammunition for TSec Norman Mineta is looking for....so he can find a reason to hand over the expenses to Wisconsin.

...next stop, Oneida Casino, Green Bay and Appleton!

[william powers]

I did see in the business section that one of the investment groups (Goldmans?) is now targeting oil at over 100$ /barrel by years end, citing multiple world pressures coupled with 70's style inflation. This would certainly drive up utilization of the short haul corridors such as Chicago-Mke. I think it would be interesting to see if this does impact on some of the multiple frequency routes this spring. But I can't imagine the adverse economic impact of such a so called "super spike". How many seats are currently available on a daily basis on the Chi-Mke route?

As an aside, the gas crunch of the mid 70s even brought short term prosperity to the Chicago-Fla Floridian.. I well remember riding a 16 car train with multiple domes including an ex CB&Q Denver Zephyr dome observation with piano Bar to/ from Nashville. Silver Tower, Terrace, Chateau, Silver Veranda are four I remember. Chateau ended up on the ground and scrapped in Hoosierland and the observations soon disappeared.

I hope the speculators are wrong. I guess we will hear the "invest in gold" ads ramped up again too. But if I lived in a region with Amtrak service I would sure be lobbying my Congressman about a dedicated funding source. There is no reason to think that "reliable" cruise trains would not benefit proportionately to the short haul corridors.

[metrarider]

Got a snail mail large size postcard from WisDOT promoting the Hiawatha service to Michell Field

"Looking for a way to arrive without delay" proclaims the title

Accompanied by a picture of a business woman stepping of the train with a Midwest Express plane overhead

flipside includes wording such as

"Now with direct service to Milwaukee's Mitchell field... relax and enjoy First class seating and get your flight on time. So go ahead, take the train and work on your laptop, read the paper... avoid traffic ... easy access to Milwaukee's world class airport and it's howetown airloine, Midwest Express..."

It's good to see them promoting the services, and I'd be interseted in seeing how ridership has been affected since the Airport station has been opened.

[JamesT4]

Since the opening of the Milwaukee Airport station, ridership has increased, but mostly it is convenient for those who live on the South side, and the South surburbs of Milwaukee, so that they won't have to drive up to the Downtown Station.

Heres a news article that tells about the ridership gain.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/oct05/364365.asp

[metrarider]

Part of the interest to me is that I'm in the near north chicago burbs, and I guess part of a market they are trying to target in siphoning off business that would otherwise go to O'Hare.

I guess it's good to see any sort of efforts regarding marketing Amtrak services.

Thanks for the links on ridership

[Gilbert B Norman]

Interesting, Mr. METRARider, that their marketing demographics are perfected enough to address you, but not I.

Might you share with the Forum whether or not you have had occasion to use General Mitchell (MKE) for a flight anytime recently? If that be the case, then I would say Amtrak's, or WSDOT's, market research has REALLY, and commendably, got their act together !

[metrarider]

Mr Norman,

I have never flown out of MKE (ORD being closest and having more direct flight options). Although I have ridden (and paid via Credit Card) the Hiawatha several times in the past couple of years - perhaps this is why they selected me for this mailout?

[Tadman]

I live in Lincoln Park, and I never even think to use MKE. I usually use Midway, and avoid O'hare at all cost. I think the cart is before the horse on the MKE use - if more people considered MKE the Amtrak station there would get used more. Possible ways to change this consideration issue would include a billboard on I-55 at Cicero and on the Kennedy at the Edens junction - That junction is usually such a problem area for people travelling out to O'hare.

Also, to really maximize the exposure to Amtrak's airport Hi service, a run-through on Metra BNSF route to Aurora would mean the airport Hi service serves both the affluent north and the affluent west - probably the largest flying demographic in the city.

[Amtrak31]

From the Milwaukee Journal

[george matthews]

I am not surprised as the trains are useful, and travel alongside a very congested road, by-passing the tedious suburbs. The trains were a bit outdated I thought when I used them five years ago.

[Nyterider]

The first thing needed for high-speed rail is a nice, straight right of way, and the former Milwaukee Road is an excellent example of one. I saw one crazy proposal to reroute Hiawathas over the North Central branch, via Antioch, just so trains could serve O'Hare Airport. Instead of making trains take a slower, longer trip for a minority of passengers transferring to planes, why not build a joint station where the Hiawathas crosses the CTA O'Hare line to make the connection?

When can we expect to see trains (at least some of them) extended to Madison?