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More and more Wisconsinities are taking the train

By Associated Press August 28, 2008 - 5:07 a.m.

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsinites are riding on trains at a record-setting pace.

That's pushing demand that could help the state expand train service into the Fox Valley.

The popular Amtrak Hiawatha service that takes passengers between Chicago and Milwaukee had 607,000 riders in the last 10 months. That's up nearly 25 percent.

The state also reported an all-time monthly record passenger count on that track in July, with more than 78,000 rides.

Because of the high demand, there's a push to extend service into northeast Wisconsin. Right now, the tracks are limited to Milwaukee and the western edge of the state.

One plan calls for trains to connect Milwaukee to Green Bay, with stops along the way in Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Neenah and Appleton.

It would also connect Milwaukee to Madison and the Twin Cities.

janesvillean
Aug 28, 2008 at 2:13 p.m.
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They did try the "Janesville Chicago express", but it was basically a sop to Tommy Thompson, who was chairman at the time. It was a passenger car attached to a freight train, and the station was the shelter out along Delavan Drive. As I recall, it had an average ridership in the single digits. It certainly wasn't a usable commuter route.
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There have been discussions of extending the Metra line from Harvard up to Janesville. Metra hasn't shown any enthusiasm for the idea. The South Central Wisconsin Commuter Transportation Study looked at some numbers that caused them to change focus to a line that might run from Madison to Rockford. It's still years in the future, though.
http://www.co.rock.wi.us/Dept/SCWCTS/pdf...

dkush21
Aug 28, 2008 at 1:57 p.m.
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I don't know how much Amtrak is, but I usually go to Harvard, IL and catch Metrarail. Weekend unlimited pass is $5.00. They should look into extending the metrarail into southern wisconsin. Probably alot cheaper than Amtrak.

anotheropinion
Aug 28, 2008 at 1:40 p.m.
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What about Janesville? Is there anything our leaders can do to get an Amtrak stop here...it would certainly help on gas consumption.

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