Pete Buttigieg and Gov. Tony Evers aboard Amtrak in Milwaukee
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg with Gov. Tony Evers, traveled from Mitchell International Airport to Milwaukee’s Intermodel Station aboard Amtrak
Amtrak’s Borealis line has reached another ridership milestone.
Less than two months after reaching more than 200,000 riders, the line surpassed more than 250,000 passengers over the Fourth of July weekend, the rail service reported July 15.
“The Borealis continues to be a success story in Wisconsin and our partner states,” said Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman in a July 15 statement. “This 250,000-rider milestone clearly demonstrates the need for safe, reliable and efficient passenger rail travel options.”
The daily route, which offers service from Milwaukee to Chicago and the Twin Cities , began in May 2024 — reaching more than 18,500 passengers in its first month of service. Within its first year, it reached more than 200,000 passengers.
What is the Amtrak Borealis route?
The Borealis line has 13 stops, making Empire Builder stops between St. Paul and Milwaukee and Hiawatha stops between Milwaukee and Chicago.
- St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minn. – Union Depot (MSP)
- Red Wing, Minn. (RDW)
- Winona, Minn. (WIN)
- La Crosse, Wis. – Amtrak Station (LSE)
- Tomah, Wis. (WDL)
- Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (WDL)
- Portage, Wis. (POG)
- Columbus, Wis. (CBS)
- Milwaukee, Wis. – Downtown (MKE)
- Milwaukee, Wis. – General Mitchell Airport Trains (MKA)
- Sturtevant, Wis. (SVT)
- Glenview, Ill. – (GLN)
- Chicago, Ill. – Union Station (CHI)
For more information, you can visit https://www.amtrak.com/borealis-train.
Alex Groth contributed to this report.