Amtrak adds priority boarding for Hiawatha service
The route, with intermediate stops in Glenview, Ill., and in Wisconsin at Sturtevant and the Milwaukee Airport, carried nearly 839,000 passengers last year, ranking it among the top 10 Amtrak routes nationally.
Amtrak Hiawatha service passengers holding current monthly and 10-ride tickets now have priority boarding at Chicago Union Station as they travel on the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, the busiest in the Midwest.
The route, with intermediate stops in Glenview, Ill., and in Wisconsin at Sturtevant and the Milwaukee Airport, carried nearly 839,000 passengers last year, ranking it among the top 10 Amtrak routes nationally. About one-quarter of the trips were made by passengers using multi-ride tickets. Seven roundtrips are operated Monday to Saturday, with six round-trips on Sundays.
Amtrak and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) representatives rode last month with a group of regular Hiawatha Service passengers who requested priority boarding, among other suggestions that are also under consideration.
Amtrak operates the service under contracts with WisDOT and the Illinois Department of Transportation.
More Rail
Biz Briefs: STV teams with Amtrak, Motorcoach Operators Boost Fleet and Land Contracts, and More
From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.
Read More →
Metra Celebrates 100 Years of Electric Rail, Looks to the Future
The event was also a celebration of recent reforms to public transportation in the Chicago area, changes that could be as transformative in the future as the major civic achievement a century ago, said officials.
Read More →
LA Metro Marks Banner Year, Sets Ambitious Goals for New Fiscal Year
Incoming LA Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined outgoing Board Chair Fernando Dutra and LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins to review accomplishments from fiscal year 2026, which included the opening of new rail extensions, advancement of major transit projects, expanded safety programs, and new rider amenities.
Read More →
DART Taps Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. as Next President/CEO
Since 2012, Ford has served as the CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority
Read More →
California High-Speed Rail Authority Signs MOU to Advance High Desert Corridor
The agreement deepens collaboration between the California High-Speed Rail Authority and the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency, supporting design integration, cost savings, and faster delivery of a key Southern California rail link.
Read More →
Building the Next Generation of Transit Technology
In this edition of METROspectives, Luminator CEO Magnus Friberg discusses the company's transformation, the growing role of AI and software, and what's next for transit technology.
Read More →
How Data, Strategy, and Community Engagement Are Reshaping Transit
In this edition of METROspectives, strada360 CEO Steve Lassey discusses how transit agencies can better align planning with operations, leverage data to improve decision-making, and build public trust as they prepare for the future of mobility.
Read More →
TTC Launches Camera Pilot to Curb Illegal Passing of Streetcars
During the pilot, the cameras will measure how often illegal streetcar passing occurs and test the technology's reliability for future automated enforcement.
Read More →
NJ TRANSIT Secures Capital Funding, Adopts FY2027 Budget
The budgets continue investments in infrastructure and equipment to maintain the system in a state of good repair and enhance the overall customer experience.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Masabi Teams with St. Louis Metro and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Transdev, Hitachi, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →