I read recently that Metra is going to push it’s system up to Milwaukee. It would be great if they kept on going up, to say, Green Bay, then who knows where. I know if I wanted to go north and had the choice of driving, flying, taking a bus or riding on a comfortable fast train, I know what I would choose.
Metra extensions into Wisconsin beyond the existing terminal of Kenosha are unlikely since Metra is a creation of the State of Illinois to provide suburban service in the Chicago area. More likely extensions are on the Southwest line beyond Orland Park to Manhattan and on the UP West line to Elburn.
Rumors I have heard include Metra extending their line on BNSF out west to Sandwich, IL (about twelve miles beyond Aurora on the C&I line). Jim
Sorry to sound coarse, Mr. Hegewisch, but yes, service beyond Kenosha to Racine and Milwaukee is definitely in a discussion stage; I believe the State of Wisconsin is making this effort. It would probably–and logically–be operated as an extension of Metra service. It’s a long way off, since much work needs to be done on the former CNW trackage, possibly including restoring the second track.
As for Manhattan and Elburn extensions, they’re more than just “likely”: the money’s in hand, and there is a third track being built along the UP from Peck Road into Elburn, for this reason, as we speak.