Amtrak Hiawatha West webinar plans are moving forward. The company is beginning to seek public feedback on the proposed service.

Amtrak schedules April 14 Hiawatha West webinar
Amtrak schedules April 14 Hiawatha West webinar

Amtrak Hiawatha West webinar and project scope

On April 3, 2026, Amtrak said it would hold a public webinar. It would cover the proposed service.

The company is working with the Federal Railroad Administration on the project. State and local partners are also involved, along with host railroads. It would extend daily Amtrak Hiawatha Service trains to Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane counties.

Known as Hiawatha West, the project is the first phase of a larger effort. That effort would implement Amtrak service between Chicago and the Twin Cities via Eau Claire.

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Initial service plan and temporary stations

Initially, the service would have up to two daily round-trips. It would focus on temporary stations in the Pewaukee, Watertown, and Madison areas.

Those locations are based on several factors:

  • access to population centers
  • the spacing of stops
  • operational feasibility
  • ridership potential

Amtrak said no decisions are final. That will remain the case until the end of the planning and environmental clearance process.

The first required step is the completion of a Service Development Plan. Amtrak is working with its partners to complete that plan. It also aims to design a project that can be implemented quickly. It would do so at the lowest cost. It would also generate a strong return on investment.

Webinar schedule and public feedback

Amtrak is seeking comments and feedback, starting with a webinar.

WHAT: Webinar on Proposed Amtrak Hiawatha West Service

WHEN: Tuesday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. CT

WHO: Amtrak Planning and State Partnerships Team

HOW: Register for the webinar

More information is available on the project website. It includes details on how interested stakeholders can ask questions and provide project feedback.

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