Has anyone heard that Metra might be extending the Union Pacific North Line from Kenosha to Milwaukee? I think it would be a cheaper alternative to Amtrak and would creat jobs in the regions of Northeast Illinois and southwest Wisconsin so I support it. What do you all think? And finally how active is the Kenosha sub north of Kenosha, Do any Freight trains run on the Kenosha sub tracks, and will upgrades need to be made to the tracks north of Kenosha? Please let me know thank you.
Metra would provide service to different communities in metro Chicago being on a different route and would add capacity as well as schedule flexibility and perhaps lower prices (albeit at a reduced comfort level and likely longer travel time given more frequent stops), but all in all I like the idea.
Why do you think there is a need for this service?
Why do you think this would “Create Jobs”?
Do you really want your question to be that stupid? The region is growing faster and maby more companies will locate in the region with better public transportation. Duh
I am so sick of behavior such as demonstrated by wilmette2210.
He asked what we think. I asked two questions. He responds with an indignant insult. I guess he follows the creed that if you can’t give an inteligent answer, then you shout down the person asking the question.
As I said, I’m sick of such juvinile behavior.
BTW, there are several major corporations HQ’d near this area. These include Abbott Labs, Takeda Pharmacuiticals (North American HQ), Discover Card and Walgreens. None of 'em located near a rail passenger line, they all are on I-94.
Wilmette2210, just answer the questions as best you can, and leave the juvinile insults in the high school locker room,
Sorry but it dose sound like someone who could give a less inteleegent anwser and by the way Abbot has shuttle buses that go from the Waukegan Train Staion, how do I know this because I know someone who worked for Abbot, so ha. I will never call a question stupid again and give an anwser not ask a queston. So
[quote user=“wilmette2210”]
Sorry but it dose sound like someone who could give a less inteleegent anwser and by the way Abbot has shuttle buses that go from the Waukegan Train Staion, how do I know
Metra to Milwaukee is highly unlikely because such service would be beyond Metra’s service region. The North Line extends across the state line to Kenosha only because that’s where the servicing facilities are located. Any service to Milwaukee would require funding and possibly operation by a Wisconsin-based agency. Note that South Shore is not part of Metra and is operated by NICTD, although the RTA provides funding based on Hegewisch-Chicago passenger counts.
Paul is correct–it wouldn’t be Metra’s operation, but something similar deriving revenue possibly from the counties surrounding Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee. Such a line would probably be geared to the needs of Milwaukee-based riders, but one could hope that there would be at least some cross-platform connections at Kenosha for someone who wanted to travel the entire distance.
I doubt that the presence of a new passenger operation, in and of itself, is going to bring economic development to this region. At best, it might eventually bring construction jobs in, for building residential complexes near the commuter stations. Can anyone point us to the increase in jobs brought about by Metra’s North Central Service, which extended commuter service into a region that, for the most part, had had none for years? Ken probably knows a bit about this, but he’d be rather upset with you at this point, Wilmette.
Rehabilitating the line would require a major investment; there’s probably been very little done to the line north of Kenosha since the pre-Amtrak days–I worked a couple of freights on that line that could move right along at 60 in spots. Some upgrading of the track south of Oak Creek may have to be done if the coal for the expanded power plant comes in by rail, but that would just be another thing for the new commuter trains to dodge or get held up by.
About the best thing a new passenger service could offer is a little congestion relief on I-94. But upgrading of the existing Amtrak service for higher speed, with increased frequency, would probably be a better way to address that.
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/86544.aspx?PageIndex=1
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/86544/1146836.aspx#1146836
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/81346/966472.aspx#966472
Lots of articles and postings about this subject in the above threads as well as others.
May I suggest you use the Trains forum SEARCH function for more information?
I am surprised that this thread wasn’t locked for its scurrility, but thank heavens it has returned to polite responses. I do also agree, though, that this topic was all but “done to death” a couple of months ago. - a.s.