Hiawatha (Amtrak)

Infobox rail line
name = "Hiawatha"
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type = Inter-city rail
system = Amtrak
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start = Milwaukee, Wisconsin
end = Chicago, Illinois
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operator = Amtrak
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linelength = convert|85|mi|km
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infobox rdt|Amtrak Hiawatha
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"Hiawatha" is the name of an 85-mile (137 km) train route operated by Amtrak on the western shore of Lake Michigan, although the name was historically applied to several different routes that extended across the Midwest and out to the Pacific Ocean. As of 2007, fourteen trains (seven round-trips, six on Sunday) run daily between Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin,cite web| url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/modes/rail.htm| title=Rail Transportation in Wisconsin| author=Wisconsin Department of Transportation| date=2007-05-01| accessdate=2007-12-11| ] making intermediate stops in Glenview, Illinois, Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and General Mitchell International Airport. The line is partially supported by funds from the state governments of Wisconsin and Illinois.cite press release| publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation| date=11 January 2007| url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/opencms/export/nr/modules/news/news_0054.html_786229440.html| title=Amtrak Hiawatha Service breaks ridership record| accessdate=2007-12-11| ] The service carries about 624,000 passengers annually. It is one of the most heavily-used routes in the entire Amtrak system, aside from rail lines on the United States North East and in California. A one-way trip between Milwaukee and Chicago takes about 90 minutes.

Many weekday riders are commuters who live in Milwaukee and work in downtown Chicago, with weekend riders tending to be students and those visiting attractions in either city. Amtrak has accommodated regular business riders with monthly and 10-ride passes, and most cars on the five-car train offer standard power outlets for laptop computers. There is also usually one "business class" car, with significantly more seat pitch and adjustable foot and leg rests. There is no extra charge for this car, it is first come first served.

In recent years the cost of living in Chicago has increased, while parking availability has decreased. For those who cannot afford to live in Chicago, but still desire an urban environment, the "Hiawatha" service has made living in Milwaukee and working in Chicago a reasonable alternative.

A typical "Hiawatha" consists of one GE Genesis locomotive on one end, an EMD F40PH "cabbage car" on the other, and 5 coaches. Most of the "Hiawatha" trains offer a quiet car as well as a snack cart service.

Historical service

Historically, the trains were operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (also known as the "Milwaukee Road") and traveled from Chicago to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. The first "Hiawatha" trains ran in 1935. By 1946, there were actually four routes carrying the "Hiawatha" name, Chicago-Minneapolis; Chicago-Omaha; Chicago-Wausau-Minoaqua; and Chicago-Minneapolis-Seattle.

From 5 June 1971 until 1 October 1979, a service known as "North Coast Hiawatha" ran from Chicago, Illinois, to Seattle, Washington. The train's route followed the historic Milwaukee Road route as far west as the Twin Cities, and then continued to Seattle largely using the historic transcontinental route of the Northern Pacific Railway, via Bismarck, North Dakota and Billings, Montana. The "North Coast Hiawatha" train name was an amalgam of the old "Olympian Hiawatha" name and the "North Coast Limited", the name of a former Northern Pacific train. Amtrak's "North Coast Hiawatha" Chicago–Seattle line ran three times weekly, although daily service was provided during some summer seasons. The Chicago–Twin Cities "Hiawatha" route ran once a day.

Air connection

In 2005, another station opened on the line, the Milwaukee Airport Rail Station at General Mitchell International Airport. The expansion was intended to facilitate transfer to and from the airport, as well (shuttles run between the station and the main terminal), giving residents on the south side of Milwaukee easier access to the service, along with an alternative to the central station in downtown, which is currently somewhat inconvenient due to Marquette Interchange reconstruction blocking freeway exits near the station. The station was primarily funded and is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

See also

* Midwest Regional Rail Initiative

Notes

References

*John Kelly (5 June 2001). [http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/123clbam.asp Amtrak's Beginnings.] "Classic Trains" magazine. Accessed 2004-05-28.
*Mike Ramsey (27 May 2004). [http://www.lincolncourier.com/news/04/05/27/c.asp Amtrak tracks budget feud.] "The Lincoln Courier". Accessed 2004-05-28.
* Frank J. Busalacchi (2 October 2003). " [http://freight.transportation.org/doc/rail_busalacchi.pdf Testimony of the Secretary Frank J. Busalacchi, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation] ". Accessed 2007-05-02.

External links

* [http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Route/Vertical_Route_Page&c=am2Route&cid=1081256321481&ssid=133 Amtrak - "Hiawatha"]
* [http://www.amtrakhiawatha.com/ "Hiawatha"]