Amtrak in Milwaukee

“I’m taking the train” is not something Milwaukee residents say very often, especially since our public transit system does not include the rail option many other cities have. But we do have is Amtrak, the nation’s often-struggling train service, whose limited routes and high prices sometimes make it seem obsolete. Luckily, the short distance to Chicago and the demand for easy transportation between the two cities has made Amtrak in Milwaukee less of a bust. In fact, with the addition of a popular South Side station near Milwaukee’s airport and plans underway for a renovated downtown depot, Amtrak in Milwaukee may be on track to a brighter future.

Amtrak in Milwaukee:  Which intercity trains are available?

Amtrak has a tendency to name its routes – a historically quaint but somewhat inconvenient approach. With only two routes in Milwaukee, though, we don’t get terribly confused.

First, and most popularly, there’s the Hiawatha Line, a 90-minute link just between Milwaukee and Chicago. The Hiawatha runs seven times daily, providing a higher degree of train connectivity between the two cities than most folks expect. Though not terribly scenic, the ride is comfortable, fast, and $20 each way to and from Chicago’s Union Station. Some people use it to commute to work a few days a week, some use it to visit friends and family, and others use it as a way to reach Chicago for a day of tourism without the worry of parking or gas. It’s reliable but admittedly more expensive than Greyhound and MegaBus coach connections.

In addition to the Hiawatha Line, Amtrak in Milwaukee also features the once-a-day Empire Builder, a train that will take you all the way to West Coast cities like Seattle and Portland via Minneapolis, Fargo, and Spokane. Designed to be scenic, the Empire Builder is quite pricey for long journeys but more reasonable for those just headed to the Twin Cities (about $75 one way). A lot of college students and their friends take this portion of the Empire Builder to get between the two metro areas.