Hide Transcript Show Transcript

[TRAIN HOR YOU WON’T SEE, OR HEAR, THE AMTRAK HIAWATHA ROLLING INTO MILWAUKEE’S INTERMODAL STATION FOR A WHILE. AMTRAK WILL TEMPORARILY SUSPEND ALL TRAINS ON THAT MILWAUKEE TO CHICAGO LINE UNTIL MAY 25. >> WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO DO WHO HAVE TO COMMUTE TO WORK? >> CUSTOMERS WHO WOULD BE TRAVELING ORDINARILY ON AN AMTRAK HIAWATHA TRAIN BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND CHICAGO, WILL INSTEAD BE PLACED ON AN AMTRAK THRUWAYS BUS. >> YOU’RE GOING TO GO FROM RIDING THE RAILS TO RIDING THE ROADS. >> AND I CAN’T DO THAT. IT’S HARD. >> AMTRAK RECENTLY CUT THE NUMBER OF DAILY TRIPS ON THE HIAWATHA LINE FROM SEVN TO JUST ONE BEFORE DECIDING TO TEMPORARILY HALT THEM ENTIRELY. LEAVING THIS EMPIRE BUILDER LINE TO THE WEST COAST AS THE LONE DAILY AMTRAK STOP IN MILWAUKEE. >> IT’S NOT GOING TO STOP ME FROM COMING TO SEE MY MOTHER AND MY KIDS AND MY FAMILY, BUT IT’S A HASSLE. >> THE DROP IN RIDERSHIP WAS EVIDENT ON THURSDAY, AS JUST A HANDFUL OF PASSENGERS BOARDED THE TRAIN FOR CHICAGO. ONE RIDER SENT US THIS VIDEO FROM ONBOARD THE NEARLY EMPTY TRAIN. >> RUNNING A TRAIN THAT HAS CAPACITY OF 200 AND 300, WHEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RIDING THAT TRAIN IS CLOSER TO 20 OR 10, DOESN’T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. >> TO ENSURE SAFE SOCIAL DISTANCING, RIDERSHIP ON THE BUSES WILL BE LIMITED TO HALF CAPACITY AND AS FOR THE COST TO RIDE THE BUS INSTEAD OF THE TRAIN? >> IS IT GOING TO BE CHEAPER OR MORE IS IT GOING TO BE CHEAP OR THE SAME PRICE. >> THE TICKET PRICE OF ABOUT 25 DOLLARS EACH WAY, AMTRAK SAYS, WILL REMAIN THE SAME. JOYCE: KENT, HOW MUCH LONGER WILL THE TRIP TO CHICAGO TAKE ON THE BUS COMPARED TO THE TRAI >> PLAN ON ANOTHER 30 OR 40 MINUTES LONGER. THE BOSS WILL STILL MAKE STOPS AT MITCHELL AIRPORT AND STURTEVANT ON THE WAY TO CHICAGO, BUT AMTRA

Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks.

Advertisement Amtrak replaces Milwaukee-Chicago trains with buses Amtrak announced it will temporarily suspend Hiawatha train service between Milwaukee and Chicago. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Amtrak announced it will temporarily suspend Hiawatha train service between Milwaukee and Chicago.Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in WisconsinEffective Friday, the Hiawatha service will be replaced with bus service.The Hiawatha service suspension is in effect until May 25.Amtrak is waiving ticket change fees for reservations made before May 31."Due to service reductions, some stations may not be staffed," Amtrak said on its website. "If the station is closed, please proceed directly to the platform to board your train. Café service will also be suspended on select trains, and all overnight trains, except the Auto Train, will be offering flexible dining. Other services may be impacted as circumstances change."The ticket price for a bus ride to Chicago will remain the same as the train.Amtrak is reducing or suspending service across the country as ridership declines amid the coronavirus pandemic."Running a train that has a capacity of 200 and 300, when the number of people riding that train is closer to 20 or 10, doesn't make a lot of sense," Amtrak Spokesman Marc Magliari said. The lack of riders was evident Thursday at the Intermodal Station.Only a handful of passengers boarded the train to Chicago.Some had just learned about the Amtrak changes."It's not going to stop me from coming to see my mother and my kids and my family, but it's a hassle," passenger Calvin James said.The switch to buses will add about 30 or 40 minutes to a one-way trip.Buses will stop at Mitchell International Airport and Sturtevant.The Hiawatha service was reduced in March due to the coronavirus.Some passengers wondered if switching from trains to buses would make social distancing more difficult.Amtrak said buses would be limited to half capacity.The Empire Builder will continue between Chicago and Seattle with a stop in Milwaukee.Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISNGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube