What is the PRAC?

The Surface Transportation Board has announced the initial members of the Passenger Rail Advisory Committee (PRAC).

“The purpose of the PRAC is to provide advice and guidance to the Board on passenger rail issues on a continuing basis to help the Board better fulfill its statutory responsibilities in overseeing certain aspects of passenger rail service.”

What the PRAC is supposed to do:

“The scope of the Committee’s activities shall include providing information, advice, and recommendations to the Board on issues impacting the development and operation of railroad passenger services, including: improving efficiency on passenger rail routes; reducing disputes between passenger rail carriers and freight rail hosts regarding the use of freight rail carrier-owned facilities and infrastructure for passenger service, including passenger on-time performance issues; and improving regulatory processes related to intercity passenger rail to the benefit of the public, the communities served by passenger rail, and the environment.”

The committee is supposed to have two open meetings annually.

Ramsey County Inks TCMC Agreements

On March 19, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority approved two amendments to their November 2023 rental agreement with Amtrak for overnight storage and servicing of TCMC trainsets at St Paul Union Depot.

• Meeting agenda and video
• Terminal track and platforms use amendment
• Train storage and servicing amendment

The Great River Rail Commission added that other key agreements were awaiting the Ramsey County approval:

[TCMC] service expansion involves partnership agreements among the Federal Railroad Administration, the state departments of transportation, the host railroad, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, and Amtrak. These agreements are in progress and finalization was dependent on completion of the agreements between the RCRRA and Amtrak.

Wisconsin Dells station, March 2024

Chicago Hub Improvement Program Update

The Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) is a complex set of projects to transform the century-old Chicago Union Station into a much better regional terminal that matches current needs and modern passenger expectations and the modern operational needs of Amtrak and METRA.

CHIP includes projects inside Union Station, and nearby projects within several miles so trains can more easily access the station with fewer conflicting moves, and even some projects miles away to reduce known long-term conflicts with busy freight railroads.

There are many proposed projects. Only the projects in development are shown here.

Recent plans, presentations, videos, and other resources:

• Sept 2023: Amtrak presentation slides to MIPRC (PDF)
• June 2023: Amtrak presentation to Infraday Midwest (video)
• Sept 2022: Amtrak MEGA project proposal (PDF)
• 2012: Chicago Union Station Master Plan (PDF)

Project			Description	Status
Mail Platform Reactivation			Repurpose Union Station’s old mail platforms (unused since 2005) for passenger service. Initially creating extra capacity to support other CHIP construction projects, the new platform will also host at least two through tracks, offering exciting opportunities for Wisconsin services. This may be a phased improvement, with a single platform (2 through tracks) available early, and a second platform (4 through tracks) available later. 2023: High Speed Rail Association’s CrossRail Chicago concept using the new through capability. (Video)	Design and construction 80% funded by FSP grant (2023-12-08). Construction dates not yet known
Trainshed Ventilation			Trainshed ventilation improvements, structural integrity improvements, and air quality enhancements. This will allow operational flexibility: Trains can have the locomotive at either end.	NEPA & Preliminary Engineering1 80% funded by FSP grant (2023-12-08). Design & construction not funded.
Platform Capacity Expansion			Expand commuter platform capacity by rearranging platforms and tracks to eliminate the old, unused baggage platforms. Includes new street entrances directly to the wider commuter platforms, reducing commuter flow through the station concourse.	NEPA & Preliminary Engineering2 80% funded by FSP grant (2023-12-08). Design & construction not funded.
Concourse Improvements			Improvements to the station experience, improved boarding process, and modernized amenities.	Preliminary Engineering started May 20233. Included in FY2025 funding request (2024-03-14)

1. FRA FSP grant lists the work as “project development.” NEPA/PE source is the Sep 2023 MIPRC Slides ↩︎
2. FRA FSP grant lists the work as “project development.” NEPA/PE source is the Sep 2023 MIPRC Slides ↩︎
3. Funding unknown. PE source is the Sep 2023 MIPRC Slides ↩︎

Milwaukee Magazine roundup of southeast Wisconsin, March 2024

Milwaukee Magazine has published a well-written summary of the possible impact of December 2023 Corridor ID selections on southeast Wisconsin.

It includes a summary of the KRM resurrection, and the possibility of a welcome reception in Waukesha County

“…Pewaukee Mayor Steve Bierce advocates a stop in his community. ‘Generally, people in Waukesha County are opposed to public transit,’ Bierce concedes. ‘But times change and attitudes change,’ especially for younger residents, he adds.”

The article also cites WisARP’s own Larry Rueff:

“Northeastern Wisconsin’s NEW Rails advocacy group has called for an AmFam Field station on the Green Bay and Madison routes.”

Badger Rails 2024 1st Quarter

The first quarter Badger Rails is now available for review.

br-2024-1-jan-feb-marchDownload

New food vendor at Milwaukee Intermodal Station

Urban Milwaukee reported a new food selection inside the downtown Milwaukee station.

Milwaukee Intermodal Station has been without a full-time food vendor since last spring [2023], when Aladdin’s All Aboard Cafe exited the station after 14 years of service.

But a new tenant is now operating in the space, ensuring passengers are…

Milwaukee Intermodal station (photo by Mark Weitenbeck)

Wisconsin’s Talgo Trains Finally Enter Service…in Nigeria

Urban Milwaukee reported an epilogue to the abandoned 2009 Chicago – Milwaukee – Madison project:

Instead of welcoming passengers traveling between Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison, the Badger-colored trainsets are ferrying passengers in Lagos, Nigeria.

The first 17 miles of Lagos’ planned 23-mile Red Line opened to passengers on Feb. 29[, 2024].

The story includes a well-written summary of the entire tragic tale.

Wisconsin’s Talgo trainsets outside the Talgo plant in Milwaukee May, 2012

St Paul Train Days 2024: June 1 & 2

St Paul Union Depot will host their annual Train Days 10-4 on June 1 and 2, 2024.

Join us for a FREE celebration of trains and transportation! Tour train equipment, shop a vendor marketplace, watch model trains, enjoy concessions, explore a historic photography exhibit, try food trucks, experience family friendly activities and much more!

All Aboard Minnesota is participating.

It’s still called TCMC for a little longer

At the Feb 1, 2024, All Aboard Wisconsin Legislative Day, one speaker announced that the TCMC (Twin Cities – Milwaukee – Chicago) project name would be replaced by the operational name “Borealis.”

However, within 24 hours, WisARP received e-mail retracting that announcement.

This is the second premature name announcement for TCMC. In 2023, “Great River Service” was also released and then retracted.

WisARP will continue to use “TCMC.”