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The word is that the grand opening for the newly remodeled downtown Milwaukee Amtrak station is November 21 - the day before Thanksgiving. Should be a VERY busy place that day, as the new station is intermodal with the Greyhound also stopping there. It certainly has been a mess in that area of town & the updating of the interior has been long overdue. As for me, I can wait until I leave for Montana on 12/22 to get my first look. Maybe the kinks will be worked out by then!
notelvis Member # 3071
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Looking forward to seeing it.
Now I wish they would renovate and reopen the 1960'ish L&N station in Birmingham too. The building is there......empty......and Amtrak passengers use a facility located under the platforms behind the existing closed building.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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So this got me thinking, can I avoid my 400 mile drive from St. Paul to Missouri to catch the SWC -by taking Greyhound to Milwaukee and hop on a train?
But no-o-o-o! Even though there are 4 busses a day, the earliest bus gets into Milwaukee 55 minutes after the only acceptable Hiawatha leaves. It's either all night on the hound with a day in CHI or a 23 hour layover in CHI. Curse the loss of the Twin Star Rocket!
Mike Smith Member # 447
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quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: So this got me thinking, can I avoid my 400 mile drive from St. Paul to Missouri to catch the SWC -by taking Greyhound to Milwaukee and hop on a train?
But no-o-o-o! Even though there are 4 busses a day, the earliest bus gets into Milwaukee 55 minutes after the only acceptable Hiawatha leaves. It's either all night on the hound with a day in CHI or a 23 hour layover in CHI. Curse the loss of the Twin Star Rocket!
What??? The Empire Builder won't work??? You could layover in MKE, instead of Chicago.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: So this got me thinking, can I avoid my 400 mile drive from St. Paul to Missouri to catch the SWC -by taking Greyhound to Milwaukee and hop on a train?
But no-o-o-o! Even though there are 4 busses a day, the earliest bus gets into Milwaukee 55 minutes after the only acceptable Hiawatha leaves. It's either all night on the hound with a day in CHI or a 23 hour layover in CHI. Curse the loss of the Twin Star Rocket!
Don't hate me, but in your case I would investigate the possibility of cheap airfare from MSP to Milwaukee's General Mitchell Airport and inface to the train there.
The budget airfare bit in and out of MSP may not be much of an option though. One of the competitive drum and bugle corps from LaCrosse, WI is actually moving their winter rehearsals to Indianapolis this year.........because it's so much cheaper for their members and staff to fly in and out of Indy rather than MSP.
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: So this got me thinking, can I avoid my 400 mile drive from St. Paul to Missouri to catch the SWC -by taking Greyhound to Milwaukee and hop on a train?
But no-o-o-o! Even though there are 4 busses a day, the earliest bus gets into Milwaukee 55 minutes after the only acceptable Hiawatha leaves. It's either all night on the hound with a day in CHI or a 23 hour layover in CHI. Curse the loss of the Twin Star Rocket!
Have you considered a different target, such as Kansas City. Unless you just want to ride the train across Illinois and Missouri this might give you a rational departure time from MSP. Have not checked out the schedules. Yeah, I know, it is a most of the day bus ride.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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I'd still much prefer driving to a plane or bus. And I would rather spend my vacation days out west or on a train than laying over in a cold midwestern city. I've tried the bus to KC and to the Zephyr in Osceola, IA. If either the bus or train is late in either direction, connections may be missed. My 11am to 11pm stay at a picnic table in Osceola in the August heat was not fun (a late eastbound Zephyr).
Galesburg, Ft. Madison and La Plata are all about the same distance from my home and I can safely park trainside for free. Since I carry too much luggage, MKE would have worked for ease of bus/train transfer and a shorter bus ride. Then there are the little things that add up like airport parking or cab fares. I guess I'm still stuck with driving.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: I'd still much prefer driving to a plane or bus. And I would rather spend my vacation days out west or on a train than laying over in a cold midwestern city. I've tried the bus to KC and to the Zephyr in Osceola, IA. If either the bus or train is late in either direction, connections may be missed. My 11am to 11pm stay at a picnic table in Osceola in the August heat was not fun (a late eastbound Zephyr).
Galesburg, Ft. Madison and La Plata are all about the same distance from my home and I can safely park trainside for free. Since I carry too much luggage, MKE would have worked for ease of bus/train transfer and a shorter bus ride. Then there are the little things that add up like airport parking or cab fares. I guess I'm still stuck with driving.
Has anyone heard anything more about the possibility of Amtrak moving out of their station in the freight yard back to the old Santa Fe station in Ft. Madison? This could be a positive.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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A few months ago I also read about the possibility of a Ft. Madison move to the downtown riverfront ATSF station. I think there were funding and BNSF train movement issues to be resolved. It is a beautiful location along the river with the historic fort and park adjacent. Currently very dark at night.
However, the current location has a positive for me. It seems to be a busy location for BNSF workers (train crew changes?) who also park there. I feel very confident about leaving my car there for days. Some of those guys look way more intimidating than the police.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: A few months ago I also read about the possibility of a Ft. Madison move to the downtown riverfront ATSF station. I think there were funding and BNSF train movement issues to be resolved. It is a beautiful location along the river with the historic fort and park adjacent. Currently very dark at night.
However, the current location has a positive for me. It seems to be a busy location for BNSF workers (train crew changes?) who also park there. I feel very confident about leaving my car there for days. Some of those guys look way more intimidating than the police.
That's a valid point. Ft. Madison as is now is a pretty safe place to leave a car while you travel. I have much less confidence with Burlington just up the road.
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