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Looks like it's being advanced by some local politicians. It's for a mere two trains per day, so that seems unlikely to catch fire, as it were. (Why did Amtrak not assume service going here back on A-Day?)
quote:Train advocates eye experimental Amtrak route between Chicago and Green Bay Fox Valley passenger service seen as link to world economy
By Steve Wideman • Gannett Wisconsin Media • June 1, 2009
APPLETON — Local passenger rail advocates want Amtrak to establish an experimental passenger train route between Chicago and Green Bay.
Bringing passenger trains back to the Fox Valley would connect this area to the world economy and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of travelers, according to the representatives from the group called NEWRails, which is dedicated to renewing passenger rail service after a 39-year absence.
"We could transport people from here and get them connected to Chicago, one of the biggest economic engines in the country and the world. That's an incredibly powerful thing to have," said Paul Linzmeyer, president of the organization and a founder of New North, an economic development consortium of 18 counties in Northeastern Wisconsin.
The last passenger train traveled through the Fox Valley on April 30, 1971.
"What if Chicago gets the 2016 Olympics? If we had a passenger rail system in Northeastern Wisconsin, we could be a part of that whole venue," Linzmeyer said. "The concept of a world economy is now very much a reality."
NEWRails leaders recently brought their rail travel wish list to Appleton, including a plan to convince state transportation leaders to ask federal officials to approve an experimental Amtrak route on existing Canadian National Railway tracks with local stops in Appleton, Neenah and Menasha, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac.
"We have a perfect opportunity to establish an experimental route," said David Schwengel, a former Chicago Northwestern track worker and rail consultant to the Department of Transportation in the recently completed reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange in Milwaukee.
"Canadian National's freight business is down significantly because of the recession. That means there is room on the tracks to fit in a passenger train. The CN could also use revenues generated through fees paid by Amtrak to access (Canadian National's) tracks," he said.
Schwengel prepared an experimental Amtrak schedule showing two trains a day running the 218-mile route from Green Bay to Chicago. He said an experimental route would establish temporary stations using prefabricated buildings similar to mobile homes.
"An experimental route likely would be fully funded by the federal government. Once the route is accepted by the state, operational expenses would be the responsibility of state and local government," Schwengel said.
Charlotte Foth of Menasha, one of 40 people to attend Wednesday's meeting at the Appleton Public Library, is an ardent fan of train travel and recently rode Amtrak's Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago.
"I find riding trains to be romantic and relaxing," Foth said.
Foth said the ecological benefits of train travel deserve attention, "especially in these times when we are concerned about global warming."
"We've got to stop putting so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere," Foth said.
Schwengel said diesel locomotives on the Hiawatha service consume about one gallon of fuel per mile.
That means the train, with five passenger cars and accounting for stops, uses 218 gallons for a one-way trip. Assuming a passenger car with a 25-mile-per-gallon fuel ratio makes the same trip, the car would consume just 8.2 gallons of gasoline.
But if 100 people rode the train instead of using their vehicles, that would save more than 600 gallons of gasoline and reduce emissions, Schwengel said.
"We estimate 150 people would use the train at various points along the route," Schwengel said.
While tracks between Milwaukee and Green Bay are generally in good enough shape to allow the 79 mph speeds required for passenger service, an estimated $125 million is needed to update signals along the route to allow freight and passenger trains to safely use the same tracks, Schwengel said.
Schwengel said the $125 million would come not from the state, but from an $8 billion federal budget appropriation intended for rail improvement across the nation.
State Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber, D-Appleton, and a member of the Assembly's transportation committee, met briefly with NEWRails officials on Wednesday and agreed to arrange a meeting between the advocates and DOT officials.
"We do need to work with DOT to encourage better transportation throughout the state, including rail and other methods," Schaber said.
— Steve Wideman writes for The Post-Crescent of Appleton.
George Harris Member # 2077
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Who's railroad are they planning on running this on?
amtrak92 Member # 14343
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Why aren't they using the former Chicago Northwestern line, current Union Pacific, instead of the Canadian National probably ex Milwaukee Road.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Soo Line became Wisconsin Central which became Canadian National.
Milwaukee Road became Soo Line which became Canadian Pacific.
Everybody got it straight?
George Harris Member # 2077
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From and old Official Guide, Chicago to Green Bay: C&NW: 212 miles, 4 hours best time CMSt.P&P: 198 miles, 4 hours best time
irishchieftain Member # 1473
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53 mph and 49.5 mph average speeds, respectively.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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My wife and I drive from Chicago through Green Bay to points north about six times a year. Although I-94 from Chicago to Milwaukee is heavily traveled, there is never much auto or truck traffic on I-43 from Milwaukee to Green Bay. Just sayin'.
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If I-43 were abandoned, how then could the Packer fans get down to Chicago to watch their team cream the Bears? The highway has to stay!
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Didn't AMTRAK run a train from Chicgao to Fond du Lac a few years ago for a while (I believe it was a one-train-per-day extension of the Hiawatha Service)? If I recall, the train never had much traffic, so it didn't last long and was soon dumped.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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That one was stillborn, Mr. Rich. The Chicago-Janesville Lake Country Limited is likely what you have in mind. Another "stillborn" from that same 1999-2K Network Growth Strategy era was a Chicago-Des Moines service over the Rock Island.
All of these services were proposed to feed freight traffic into Chicago for handling either to the East or West Coasts; passengers, if any were to show up, were strictly ancillary.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Thanks, Gil -- I don't remember the Des Moines proposal. You are right, though, concerning Fond du Lac. The Lake Country Ltd did run for a few months anyway, but then was dumped due to lack of marketable patronage.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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It may have been "stillborn" back then, but it looks like we may have a live birth yet on the Chicago-Des Moines front:
quote:Originally posted by Ocala Mike: It may have been "stillborn" back then, but it looks like we may have a live birth yet on the Chicago-Des Moines front:
Talk is cheap. These sorts of things are always good for a few inches of newsprint, but usually that is the end of it. Somebody may get cash to do a study, but seldom more. The validity and value of the "study" is inversely proportional to how well politically connected the outfit doing the study is.
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