Amtrak Expansions Set to Transform Travel in Illinois and Wisconsin

If you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic (let's say on I-94 between Milwaukee and Chicago) and thought, “There has to be a better way.” Well, good news might finally be pulling into the station (see what I did there).

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In a wave of renewed investment, Amtrak and state officials are laying serious track toward improving and expanding passenger rail across Wisconsin and Illinois. The newest developments? Wisconsin just secured a $500,000 federal planning grant to explore two long-discussed routes: Milwaukee to Madison and Milwaukee to Green Bay. It’s the first real momentum those corridors have seen in decades. While these aren’t ready to launch tomorrow, officials say the planning is critical groundwork for real service down the line.

Meanwhile, Illinois continues to anchor the Midwest’s rail network, with Chicago’s Union Station undergoing a major upgrade. Thanks to the Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) and a hefty federal grant (up to $300 million), plans are in motion to improve track capacity, reduce delays, and prepare for more frequent service. Given that almost all Midwest routes pass through Chicago, these improvements have ripple effects far beyond Illinois. For example, the brand-new Borealis line. It began service in May 2024 and is now the second daily Amtrak train running between Chicago and the Twin Cities, offering stops in Milwaukee and La Crosse.

Together, these developments reflect something bigger: a growing appetite for alternatives to driving and flying. That's especially the case in the Midwest, where distances between cities are essentially rail-friendly. The train renaissance isn’t nostalgia. It’s about convenience, sustainability, and connecting cities that have been underserved for too long. To be honest, a round-trip ticket only costs about $42 from Milwaukee to Chicago. That ain't half-bad considering the alternatives, like gas, traffic, your sanity, and (shocked gasp) other drivers.

So, whether you’re headed to a Badgers game in Madison, a Packers tailgate in Green Bay, or a business lunch in downtown Chicago, it might not be long before “just take the train” becomes the obvious answer for many more people.