Amtrak Borealis route extends service between St. Paul, Milwaukee and Chicago

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation in early May announced the Amtrak Borealis route, a second daily round trip route between the Twin Cities, Milwaukee and Chicago. The new route will start May 21 and transportation officials said the extra passenger trains will visit eight Wisconsin stations along the way.

“Borealis will double the options for passenger rail travel along a corridor that connects many businesses, universities, tourism destinations and Wisconsin communities,” said Craig Thompson, the state transportation secretary. “Thank you to Minnesota, Illinois and Amtrak for working together to help meet the demand for passenger rail across our region,” he added.

Borealis trains will make current Empire Builder stops between St. Paul, Minn. And Milwaukee and the Hiawatha Service stops between Milwaukee and Chicago, WisDOT officials said.

Trains offer café cars with regional dining and beverages with food and drink options from each of the partner states, officials added. Trains will have ample legroom, no middle seats and free WiFi, regardless of business or coach class.

Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois sponsor the service, and Borealis is Minnesota’s first state-supported Amtrak service. Currently, Amtrak operates 29 state-supported routes with 18 state partners.

Borealis trains will visit stations in La Crosse, Tomah, Wisconsin Dells, Portage, Columbus, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and Sturtevant.