New Amtrak line connecting Chicago, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities could start this year. Here's what we know.

A proposal to add a second daily round-trip passenger train from Chicago to the Twin Cities — by way of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells and La Crosse — is on track to start later this year.

The $53 million Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail Service project – dubbed the Great River route — has been in the works since 2015.

Here's what we know.

When will the new Amtrak line be available?

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, passengers could be riding the new train line by the end of 2023.

The train will make one departure a day and take about 7 1/2 hours to travel the 411 miles from St. Paul to Chicago. The train will stop at the 13 locations already on the line. A decision hasn't been made on whether the route will start in St. Paul or Chicago, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The fares have not yet been established.

Where will the track be?

TCMC will add a second, daily round-trip passenger train on the corridor that is already used by Amtrak’s long-distance Empire Builder that travels between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest and Hiawatha, the line that offers seven round trips daily between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Who will ride the new line?

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation estimates 124,200 people will ride the new train the first year of full service.

How is the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago project funded?

The $53 million project will be paid for with a mix of Federal Railroad Administration grants but requires state matches from Wisconsin and Minnesota.

• $31.8 million Federal Railroad Administration Consolidated Railroad Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant was awarded in September 2020 for final design and construction of required railroad improvements to implement TCMC passenger trains.
• $12.6 million Federal Railroad Administration (Restoration & Enhancement Program grant was awarded in May 2020 to offset the cost of operations for the first three years.
• Amtrak has committed $5 million in funding. An additional $16.2 million in state matching dollars are needed: $6.2 million from Wisconsin, $10 million from Minnesota.

What about passenger rail between Milwaukee and Madison?

Last year Madison city officials began advancing a plan to bring passenger rail to the capital city after President Joe Biden signed a law in 2021 setting aside $102 billion in federal funds for rail lines. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, however, has vowed to not allow any state money to go toward the project. Madison officials are exploring sites for an Amtrak station.