The Hiawatha train service between Milwaukee and Chicago is set to get a much-needed upgrade this fall, with the introduction of nine new railcars. This development comes as a relief to commuters and travelers who have been dealing with reduced seating capacity since March 2025 when Amtrak removed its Horizon passenger cars due to underframe corrosion. The new coach cars, part of Siemens' Venture trainset, will provide additional seating and comfort for passengers. However, the real game-changer is the introduction of the Venture cab-coaches, which will replace the old F-40 cab cars and offer a unique feature: space and equipment for train conductors to maneuver the train, in addition to 56 seats for passengers. This is a significant improvement, as the current cab cars have no passenger seating at all.
The process of acquiring these new train cars has been a long and winding road. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) ordered the nine new cars from Siemens in 2021, but the planning for updated equipment dates back to 2009. Then-Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle entered a no-bid contract with Talgo, a Spanish train manufacturing company, to build two new trains for the Hiawatha line. This was part of a larger plan to build a Milwaukee-Madison high-speed rail line, which was funded by an $810 million federal stimulus grant. However, after Republican Gov. Scott Walker took office in 2010, he canceled the project, citing high operation costs. This led to a legal battle, with Talgo eventually suing the state and receiving a settlement of $51 million, along with the trains.
In 2019, the state Legislature's budget committee approved funds to acquire new passenger car trains for the Hiawatha line. The DOT explained that the manufacturing process takes years, and the nine new railcars will undergo commissioning and testing in Chicago before they can be put into service. This process typically takes three to four months. The addition of these new cars will significantly increase the seating capacity of the Hiawatha trains, accommodating up to 388 passengers and nine checked bicycles per trainset. This is a welcome development for the popular train service, which has been operating with reduced capacity due to the removal of the Horizon cars.
While the introduction of the new railcars is a positive step, it also raises questions about the future of the Hiawatha line and the broader rail infrastructure in Wisconsin. The state has been planning for high-speed rail for years, but the project has faced numerous setbacks and political hurdles. The addition of the Venture cab-coaches, with their unique features, could be a step towards modernizing the Hiawatha line and providing a more comfortable and efficient travel experience for commuters and travelers alike. As the new railcars come into service, it will be interesting to see how they impact the Hiawatha line and whether they signal a renewed commitment to rail infrastructure in the region.
