Bikes On Wisconsin Amtrak service coming in 2012

According to this article on wisbusiness.com:

"Alyssa Macy of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said each of
the two new train sets will feature 14 cars, excluding the locomotive,
consisting of five ADA-accessible coach cars with restrooms; six
ADA-accessible cars without restrooms, the bistro car, an end car, which
will have a bicycle rack that can hold up to eight bikes, and a cab, or
power car."

These new train sets will initially be launched on the Chicago - Milwaukee service, and there is a plan to extend that service to Madison by 2013.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bicycle Poet on September 14, 2010 at 4:17am

The new trainsets for the Chicago - Milwaukee service are already committed to by WisDOT. The service upgrades to that line are also committed to by WisDOT and IDOT.

The creation of the Madison - Milwaukee line is part of the original High-Speed rail grants that were awarded last year. The entire cost of building this line could be covered under federal dollars. Whether or not it actually happens will rest in the outcome of the Wisconsin gubernatorial race. The two Republican candidates have made "Kill the Train" one of their biggest platform messages. One of these two candidates has stated he will try to steer the federally-allocated dollars to Wisconsin roads and bridges -- an unlikely scenario given that these are restricted funds meant to be spent on a specific project. The single Democratic gubernatorial candidate has stood firm behind building passenger train service to Madison. He argues that if Wisconsin doesn't build this service, the high-speed rail money it was rewarded will just go to another state's rail project.

For the sake of (re)building better transit options for a 21st Century America, I sure hope that the Madison Amtrak service gets built.

James Baum said:

That is, if the thing actually gets built. It isn't a done deal yet. Too bad they didn't start it 2 years ago when they had 87 gazillion stimulu$bux to hand out (instead of giving it to the bankers) and when there still was some political consensus.

I doubt anything is going to get built after the bloodbath this November in the elections.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 14, 2010 at 4:24am

If Walker wins the race for Governor he said he would veto the high-speed rail and do everything within his power to stop it.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/102406859.html

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/100796869.html

No, it's not a "done deal" even with the Massive Federal $timulu$t money (too bad as at least time it'll be going to something useful rather than lining the Wall Street Bankers pockets again)

bicycle_poet said:

The new trainsets for the Chicago - Milwaukee service are already committed to by WisDOT. The service upgrades to that line are also committed to by WisDOT and IDOT.

The creation of the Madison - Milwaukee line is part of the original High-Speed rail grants that were awarded last year. The entire cost of building this line could be covered under federal dollars. Whether or not it actually happens will rest in the outcome of the Wisconsin gubernatorial race. The two Republican candidates have made "Kill the Train" one of their biggest platform messages. One of these two candidates has stated he will try to steer the federally-allocated dollars to Wisconsin roads and bridges -- an unlikely scenario given that these are restricted funds meant to be spent on a specific project. The single Democratic gubernatorial candidate has stood firm behind building passenger train service to Madison. He argues that if Wisconsin doesn't build this service, the high-speed rail money it was rewarded will just go to another state's rail project.

For the sake of (re)building better transit options for a 21st Century America, I sure hope that the Madison Amtrak service gets built.

James Baum said:
That is, if the thing actually gets built. It isn't a done deal yet. Too bad they didn't start it 2 years ago when they had 87 gazillion stimulu$bux to hand out (instead of giving it to the bankers) and when there still was some political consensus.

I doubt anything is going to get built after the bloodbath this November in the elections.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on September 2, 2012 at 6:21am

This is awesome. Has anyone taken a bike on to the line that does to the wisconsin dells?

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 2, 2012 at 9:27am

Great news!

BTW, I have taken my folder (folded, in bag) on the South Shore.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 2, 2012 at 12:50pm

Holy zombie thread batman.

Has something changed regarding the status of the WI highspeed rail lines?

Permalink Reply by Bicycle Poet on September 2, 2012 at 1:05pm

Yes, Wisconsin's Flea Party Governor (Walker) killed the extension of the Milwaukee-Chicago line that was supposed to go to Madison. Because, you know, Wisconsin's capital and 2nd largest city doesn't need passenger rail service to its largest city and the largest metropolis in the Midwest. Gaawd Damn Flea Baggers.

James BlackHeron said: