Both versions of this newsletter are available here for download in PDF format. The version that’s available in most Wisconsin train stations and the full copy text version. Enjoy.
TCMC NEWSLETTER V5N2 February 24, 2023
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Author Archives: terry brown
WISARP SPRING MEETING DATE AND AGENDA SET
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The Spring 2023 General Membership Meeting for the Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers has been set for Saturday, March 25, 2023 beginning at 10am CDT. This Spring the meeting will be conducted by Zoom Meeting software only. The virtual meeting will be sponsored by and hosted by the High Speed Rail Alliance.
This meeting will be FREE to everyone that registers in advance. https://tinyurl.com/t97zkfwk
WisARP Spring Meeting Agenda-Sat. March 25th, 2023
10:00 am John Parkyn (President of WisARP) – Opening Remarks
10:05 am High Speed Rail Alliance presentation-Rick Harnish (Executive Director)
10:35 am Lisa Stern (WisDOT-Chief of Harbors & Railroads) presentation
11:00 am Break
11:10 am Scott Rogers (VP of Governmental Affairs-Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the West Central WI Rail Coalition) update on passenger rail developments for West Central WI and the region.
11:35 am Mayor Don Merkes-Menasha, WI & Mayor Tony Penterman-Kaukauna, WI will give a joint presentation on the efforts to extend passenger rail service from Milwaukee to Green Bay via the Fox Cities.
12Noon John Parkyn (President of WisARP) Closing Remarks & Adjournment
MIPRC MEETING REVIEW BY BRIAN NELSON
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December 27, 2022 – The fourth edition of Badger Rails is out. A monologue by Brian Nelson, President of All Aboard Minnesota is contained in this issue of Badger Rails, but is not the complete document. Below you can read or download his complete comments. Enjoy.
TCMC NEWSLETTER V4N7b
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November 14, 2022 – The copy for the TCMC Newsletter covering the WisARP Meeting on Saturday, October 29, 2022 is available for download. This newsletter covers my notes regarding the TCMC and Hiawatha trains and other effecting news.
STATIONS NEWSLETTER v4n6 issued October 29
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November 11, 2022 – My newsletter number six for the 2022 calendar year is my first installment looking at train stations for the future extension trains running to Green Bay and Madison. This first edition was given out at the WisARP Meeting in Madison on October 29. This newsletter contained four stories. The full copy of each story is contained here in downloadable PDF files.
TCMC MOVES INTO FINAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE!!
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September 21, 2022 – For those of you not on WisDOT’s e-mailing list for updates, the information below was blasted out on September 19. We’re all waiting for more information on exact dates and locations.
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| Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago (TCMC) Intercity Passenger Rail Project |
The Design Phase of the Twin Cities – Milwaukee – Chicago Rail (TCMC) Project has Begun!
We wanted to give you a heads up for the upcoming public involvement meetings that will be scheduled in late October or early November so you can view the design plans and offer input for the Twin Cities – Milwaukee – Chicago (TCMC) project. The project will add a second, daily round-trip passenger rail service to the 411-mile corridor used by Amtrak’s long-distance Empire Builder route between Milwaukee and Saint Paul.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), has initiated the final design phase of the Twin Cities – Milwaukee – Chicago (TCMC) project.
The design phase will include the development of detailed plans for the improvement areas and will provide opportunities for local governments, agencies, stakeholders, and the public to provide input on those plans. This final design phase is expected to be complete in Summer 2023 with construction running from late 2023 into 2025. The additional train service is expected to start in 2024, or earlier.
The design phase follows a robust planning and environmental study that determined improvements to rail infrastructure so the corridor can handle freight and increased passenger traffic. The project has secured $53 million in federal, state, and Amtrak funding to allow the design and construction of tracks, signals, and railroad crossing improvements in La Crosse, Wis., La Crescent, Minn., and Winona, Minn. The existing stops and train platforms along the corridor will be used for the TCMC service.
Public Involvement Meetings showing the design plans will be held in late October or early November 2022. A second virtual public meeting is expected in 2023 prior to construction. In addition to public meetings, the project team will conduct meetings with stakeholders, local officials, and property owners as needed throughout the design phase. Meeting invitations will be emailed as well as periodic project updates.
For additional information about the TCMC Project please visit the WisDOT and MnDOT project webpages.
To provide comments about the TCMC Project please use this comment form.
Thank you.
TCMC AUGUST 2022 NEWSLETTER
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September 11, 2022 – The August version of the TCMC Newsletter is out. This newsletter’s original creation was intended as a companion for the Great River Rail Commission trip between St. Paul and Milwaukee. You can read more about this trip in the September issue of Badger Rails.
There are two files you can download: One is the full text for the newsletter. Due to size limitations not all of this text was included in the V4N5b newsletter. The second file is the actual V4N5b newsletter. Hard copies are available in the train stations in southeastern Wisconsin and will be in all stations by the end of the month.
TCMC MAY 2022 UPDATE
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June 5, 2022 – The latest information I have is in the May 27 issue of TCMC Newsletter. Available as a download, check out the newsletter itself featuring photos from Alan Baker of the new Siemens ALC-42 leading the Empire Builder through Wisconsin. The complete unedited copy is also available for download.
GREEN BAY EXTENSION NEWSLETTER MARCH 2022
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March 25, 2022 – The first Green Bay Extension Newsletter is being released in conjunction with the WisARP General Meeting in Appleton on March 26, 2022.
The above picture is the backside of the former C&NW train station in Oshkosh as a Canadian National freight train passes by. All downloadable newsletter elements are below.
TCMC NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2022
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featured stories include mid-February 2022 TCMC Update and the 2021 On-Time charts for the Empire Builder for Wisconsin.
February 25, 2022 – The latest TCMC Newsletter is posted. Also posted is the On-Time monthly data for the Westbound Empire Builder train number 7 for 2021. You can download as a PDF file the newsletter in addition to the monthly On-Time data. When reviewing the monthly data for #7, check out how many times the train was early into St. Paul, and by how many minutes.
March 2, 2022 UPDATE – The Eastbound #8 Empire Builder On-Time has been added.
Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers 