Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail Service

About the project

Map of potential Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago intercity passenger rail service (formerly referred to as 2nd Train).
Map of proposed Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago intercity passenger rail service. This project will add an additional daily round-trip passenger train to the existing Amtrak Empire Builder corridor between the Twin Cities and Chicago. View full-size map.

The Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail Project (TCMC) will add a second daily round trip passenger train on the 411-mile rail corridor (used by Amtrak’s long-distance Empire Builder) between Chicago and the Twin Cities.

The project will provide more choices and travel flexibility, with morning and mid-day departures from St. Paul and Chicago. It will also provide more reliable service with better on-time performance for both passenger and freight trains.

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Planning, design and construction

The project is in the final design phase. We anticipate construction to begin in 2024 and end in 2026.

Operations

We are working to implement a second Amtrak route along the Twin Cities – Milwaukee – Chicago corridor.

This service expansion involves partnership agreements among the Federal Railroad Administration, the state DOTs, host railroad, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority and Amtrak. 

The partnership agreements are moving forward. When all the elements have been finalized between the parties, the schedules, fares, start date and official name of the train service will be jointly announced. We expect this service announcement in 2024. Thank you for your interest in this service expansion. We look forward to serving our passengers.

Amtrak feasibility study

This project is based on recommendations of Amtrak’s 2015 feasibility report (PDF) on the proposed service. The favorable ridership and revenue projections identified in the feasibility report supported a more detailed study of the proposed service.

Phase 1 environmental study

MnDOT and its partners completed a Phase 1 study that evaluated alternatives for track and other infrastructure improvements required for a second trip, along with anticipated costs. The Phase 1 scope of work included:

  • Environmental tasks to prepare a Purpose and Need Statement (PDF) and a Service Alternatives Analysis (PDF) that fulfills state and federal environmental requirements
  • An operations analysis to evaluate and determine how the additional frequency can be operated most efficiently with freight trains on the Saint Paul to Chicago corridor and integrate with the Hiawatha schedule between Milwaukee and Chicago
  • Evaluation of railroad infrastructure to determine improvement needs and development of conceptual engineering plans. This will ensure states become eligible for federal funding and allow the project to advance toward implementation
  • Development of capital cost estimates for approved infrastructure improvements based on the conceptual engineering plans
  • Stakeholder and public engagement

Phase 2 environmental study

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has been taking the lead on the final phase of the Project. Phase 2 of the project involves the completion of environmental review and preparation of a Service Development Plan. As of May 2021, MnDOT and WisDOT filed a categorical exclusion with the FRA. MnDOT and WisDOT are anticipating FRA approval by mid-summer. The FRA is also reviewing a draft Service Development Plan.

Capital costs

  • The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Consolidated Railroad Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant awarded $31.8 million in September 2020 for final design and construction of required railroad improvements to implement TCMC passenger trains.
  • Amtrak has committed $5 million in funding
  • MnDOT has committed $10 million in funding
  • WisDOT has committed $6.5 million in funding

Operating costs

  • The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Restoration & Enhancement Program grant awarded $12.6 million in May 2020 to offset cost of operations for the first three years.
  • On-going operating costs will be shared between Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's TCMC project page for more information on public engagement, funding, location, and the project schedule.