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Wisconsin receiving federal funds for Chicago-Madison train service! White House announcement follows President's State of the Union speech 02/06/2010

Amtrak's Acela

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THE TRAINS ARE COMING! Wisconsin learned Jan. 27 it will receive the funds it requested to add Madison to the national passenger rail network, as part of a Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison-Twin Cities service with multiple daily trains.

That means those in our area will have 1,000 places to go by train from here throughout the U.S. and Canada when the service starts.

The funds -- the fourth largest grant among all grants announced nationwide -- initially will extend Chicago-Milwaukee trains to Madison. A subsequent phase will add Madison-Twin Cities service. Chicago will allow connections with other trains.

State officials earlier had expressed optimism Wisconsin would be getting nearly $820 million in federal dollars for an 85-mile Milwaukee-Madison high speed rail route, with 1 hour or so service starting Jan. 1, 2013.

The time until the start date is needed to rebuild track, install signaling, obtain train sets to be built for the route, and construct facilities for passengers. A subsequent phase will add Madison-Twin Cities service. More.

WHAT WILL A TRIP ON A HIGH-SPEED TRAIN BE LIKE? Watch this short (3 min. 47 sec.) video imagining such a trip and how you might in the future get from your home to the train and from the train to your destination. Sit back, enjoy -- and imagine!

PRORAIL WAS 25 YEARS OLD IN JANUARY, receiving the best birthday gift it could have with the Jan. 27 announcement that trains will be returning to Madison. That was its vision when it formed in January 1985 with an initial membership of about 25.

We'll have more news here soon about ways ProRail will be observing its 25th anniversary during 2010.

VISIT THE PRORAIL BOOTH AT THE MADISON MODEL RAILROAD SHOW Feb. 20-21 at the Alliant Energy Center. Download informational flyer here.

VISITING MADISON? Check out the Twitter page of the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau for ideas, deals, etc. (Within 3 years you should be able to arrive by TRAIN!)

PLANNING A TRAIN TRIP? If you have questions or are looking for Web links to help you plan your trip, get advice from experienced train travelers. Send an email to prorailtravel-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit ProRail Travel to sign up.

(For more train travel news, visit ProRail Travel.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES and why RTAs are a good idea for Wisconsin. More

WANT TO BE ACTIVE IN GETTING MORE TRAINS? Subscribe to ProRail Action, an email message service that provides current information about passenger rail developments with emphasis on Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. Send an email to prorailaction-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit ProRail Action to sign up.

(For more train advocacy information and ideas, visit ProRail Action.

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