Well, you're getting your terms mixed up a bit, so I'll attempt to clarify:
The entire route from Chicago to Milwaukee is designated the CP C&M Subdivision. (CP, Canadian Pacific, acquired the Soo Line; the Soo Line had acquired the CMStP&P, more commonly known as the Milwaukee Road.) Metra's nomenclature of "Milwaukee District" comes from the fact that the commuter service was operated by the MILW before the predecessor agencies to Metra took over. I'm simplifying here, as this transition happened in stages and has its own history that you can find and read online. But anyway, "Milwaukee District" is a name officially used only by Metra, and does not really refer to the entire C&M Subdivision. MD-North trains make a left turn off of the C&M at Rondout, a junction about four miles north/west of Lake Forest, to continue the rest of the way to Fox Lake. This branch line is known as the CP Fox Lake Subdivision. West of F.L., the line is owned by the Wisconsin & Southern RR, a shortline which bought up several ex-MILW branch lines.
Officially, the entire C&M Sub from Chicago to Milwaukee is dispatched by the CP C&M Dispatcher. Same dispatcher also controls the Fox Lake Sub. In reality, though, many routing and dispatching duties are left to the Metra control operators at Towers A-2 & A-5, and the CP control operator at Rondout. So even though the following isn't true "on paper", it's pretty much how it works:
Code: Select allLine segment Dispatcher/Control Operator Track Maintenance
------------ --------------------------- -----------------
CUS - Canal Street Amtrak CUS train director Amtrak
Canal Street - Tower A-2 Metra operator at A-2 Metra
A-2 (Western Ave) intlg. Metra operator at A-2 Metra/Union Pacific (UP/Metra West Line crossing)
Tower A-2 - Mayfair Metra operators at A-2 and A-5 Metra
Mayfair interlocking UP operator at CY Tower Metra/UP (UP/Metra Northwest Line crossing)
Mayfair - Rondout CP C&M Dispatcher (Minneapolis, MN) Metra
Rondout - Fox Lake CP C&M Dispr + CP opr. at Rondout Metra
Rondout - Milwaukee CP C&M Dispatcher CP
In spite of all these different pieces, the CP dispatcher and the various operators all work together, and thru passenger trains normally just receive one set of track bulletins that covers them for their entire run.
No Metra service operates on the C&M Sub north (timetable west) of Rondout - as mentioned earlier, they make that left turn onto the Fox Lake line instead. This is where Amtrak comes in. Both the Hiawatha and Empire Builder remain on the C&M for the duration of the trip to Milwaukee. Most Hiawathas are timetabled for a 1hr. 29min. trip, and the EB is timetabled for 1'30". It is very possible to beat those running times by several minutes, though, on a good trip with no delays.
Phew. Hope that covers it.
