The opportunity?
There is increased demand for more frequent passenger service between Chicago and the Twin Cities, one of the most significant corridors in the Midwest. With a need for improved regional rail service reliability and more desirable scheduling options, there was a strong call for the first passenger rail service expansion in Wisconsin in more than two decades.

What is the “fix,” and how does it benefit the region?
The Borealis Amtrak rail service began in May 2024 and provides daily service between Chicago and Saint Paul via Milwaukee. There are 11 intermediate stops, including eight in Wisconsin: Sturtevant, Milwaukee Airport, Milwaukee Downtown, Columbus, Portage, Wisconsin Dells, Tomah, and La Crosse. The route provides passengers with a wide range of regional destination options and is a potential driver of economic growth in communities along the line. The Borealis has had a successful start. According to Amtrak, preliminary figures for the first full month of service show a ridership of more than 18,500. On average, about 300 passengers boarded the eastbound and westbound trains daily.

What makes this new service possible?
The new Borealis service is a collaborative effort. Project stakeholders include Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the federal government contributed $10 million, $6.2 million, and $32 million, respectively, to the route’s launch.

The success of this multi-state project could serve as a model for future rail expansions in other regions.

Map of new Amtrak Borealis route.