What is the TCMC Second Train?

The TCMC Second Train is the common name for the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail Service. The project seeks to implement a second daily round-trip passenger train on the existing Amtrak® Empire Builder route between the Twin Cities and Milwaukee utilizing one of the existing Hiawatha service trains currently running between Milwaukee and Chicago. The service would operate at conventional speeds of 79 mph and would serve all existing Empire Builder stations. Visit MnDOT's project site for more information.

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The project is being led by: Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, Great River Rail Commission, and La Crosse Area Planning Committee.

 

Why expand passenger rail?

The corridor between the Twin Cities and Chicago is one of the busiest in the Midwest U.S., with more than 10 million trips taken annually. The TCMC Second Train would provide an alternative transportation mode for travelers. An Amtrak 2015 feasibility report (PDF) found that an additional 155,000 trips would be taken if a second daily round-trip train was added. Additional modeling in 2020 updated that number to 124,000 trips. The favorable ridership and revenue projections identified in the feasibility report supported a more detailed study of the proposed service. More trains would mean more options for travelers in and outside of the River Route corridor, which runs from Saint Paul to La Crescent, Minnesota, beside the Mississippi River. The Great River Commission believes that a second daily train is a first step to more frequent and eventually faster passenger rail. Learn more about the Feasibility Study.

 

What are specifics about the service? (Speed, stops, schedule)

A TCMC Second Train would operate between 4 and 6 hours apart from departure/arrival times of the existing Empire Builder service. It will take one round-trip per day and utilize one of the existing Amtrak Hiawatha service trains between Milwaukee and Chicago. 13 stations would be served and travel time would be slightly faster than Empire Builder at 7.5 hours despite traveling at conventional speeds.

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For more information on the existing Empire Builder service, visit Amtrak.

 

What are the benefits of the project?

There are job, tourism, safety and community benefits to the TCMC Second Train.

Construction of track and station area improvements, estimated at $40 million, will create new jobs. In 2019, Amtrak spent over $71 million on goods and services in Minnesota which only stands to increase if passenger rail service is doubled.

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About 46% of Amtrak riders are tourists. TCMC will support tourism growth in Minnesota cities along the River Route, bringing visitors to major sporting events, small town festivals and our beautiful natural attractions.

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The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Federal Railway Administration have invested over $11 million in crossing safety improvements along the TCMC corridor; $11.6 million in additional crossing safety improvements are being studied.

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Communities all along the River Route stand to benefit from the TCMC Second Train by offering a transportation alternative to college students, providing upgrades to freight rail tracks, and diverting auto users to rail.

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For more information on the existing Empire Builder service, visit Amtrak.

 

What is the current status of the Second Train project? (Updated July 2021)

The first and second phases of planning are complete. The second phase of planning resulted in an environmental analysis, preliminary design, and generated a service development plan.  The state of Wisconsin provided $300,000 in fall 2019 to complete a portion of the second phase of work and a grant issued by the Federal Railroad Administration in May 2020 pledged $12.569 million for startup operating costs. In June of 2021, the Minnesota Legislature included funding for capital costs for the TCMC Second Train project in the transportation bill which was signed into law by Governor Walz. The Great River Rail Commission will begin advocating for a state revenue source for operating expenses.

 

What work needs to be completed before a Second Train can begin operation?

The next steps include: 

• Detailed design of track improvements

• Construction of improvements

• Identifying the type and source of passenger rail vehicles (options are to purchase new vehicles, or to lease vehicles)

• A minimal environmental analysis 

• Service contracts between the states, the host railroad and the service operator

 

What is the timeline?

The TCMC Second Train could be operational as soon as 2024 now that funding is secured.

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Are passenger trains safe?

Trains are one of the safest modes of transportation available. While a few high-profile accidents have happened in the last few years, trains operate constantly and are rarely involved in accidents. When they are, it's often at grade crossings with vehicles trying to go around crossing arms. State, federal and rail industry partners must work together to continue addressing safety concerns as passenger rail use increases.

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The TCMC route will include track and switch improvements to accommodate safe travel of a second passenger train.

More information about passenger rail safety is here.

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