Amtrak restores Hiawatha service, selects Siemens to build intercity trainsets

Amtrak today announced it and its partner state transportation departments are restoring all Hiawatha service round-trips between Milwaukee and Chicago.

The regular weekday schedule of seven round-trips is now available for booking, with an additional Chicago departure on Friday nights; the Saturday schedule of seven departures from Milwaukee and six from Chicago; and the Sunday schedule of six round-trips.

At the same time, service is restored for two daily round-trip Amtrak Thruway buses between Green Bay and Milwaukee, with stops in De Pere, Appleton, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The service provides connections to and from Chicago using Hiawatha trains, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

Meanwhile, Amtrak yesterday announced California-based Siemens Mobility Inc. as the preferred bidder to manufacture a new fleet of 83 intercity trainsets that will operate on the Northeast Corridor, Palmetto and various state-supported routes.

The trainsets will replace the current Amfleet I, Metroliner cab and Cascades service fleets, Amtrak officials said in a press release. The contract will also include a long-term service agreement for technical support, spares and material supply.

“This new state-of-the-art equipment will not only provide Amtrak customers with an enjoyable and efficient travel experience, it will also enable us to improve safety, increase passenger capacity and reduce carbon emissions,” said Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Bill Flynn.

Amtrak has targeted summer 2021 for the contract execution and notice to proceed, and will spend the time between now and then continuing negotiations with Siemens for the procurement.