Amtrak’s Hiawatha train service operating between Milwaukee and Chicago will restore and increase seating capacity in fall 2026 after losing nearly 100 seats per trainset in March 2025. The reduction occurred when Amtrak removed Horizon passenger cars built by Bombardier Transportation in the late 1980s due to underframe corrosion.
New Siemens Venture Railcars Scheduled for Fall 2026
To address the capacity loss, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported that nine new railcars ordered from Siemens in 2021 will be introduced gradually in fall 2026. The first two coach cars are expected to enter service by September 2026, with the remaining seven cars beginning operation through October and November.
Railcar Composition and Capacity Details
The nine new Siemens Venture railcars include six coach cars, identical in model to the current equipment, and three cab-coach cars, which are new to the Midwest region. Each Venture cab-coach features 56 passenger seats and space for train conductors to operate the train.
Replacement of Old Cab Cars and Updated Trainset Capacity
The Venture cab-coach cars will replace aging Amtrak-owned F-40 cab cars that do not have passenger seating. Once all new cars are deployed, Hiawatha trainsets will consist of five coaches and one cab-coach car. This configuration will support up to 388 passengers and nine checked bicycles per trainset, improving the current maximum capacity of 260 to
280 passengers.
Background on Talgo Contract and High-Speed Rail Project
Since 2009, Wisconsin had aimed to modernize Hiawatha’s rolling stock. That year, Democratic Governor Jim Doyle contracted with Spanish manufacturer Talgo to build two trains intended to replace aging equipment, including Horizon cars. Talgo’s contract tied to an $810 million federal grant for a Milwaukee-Madison high-speed rail line, which was canceled after Republican Governor Scott Walker took office post-2010.
Talgo proceeded to build the trains and sued Wisconsin for breach of contract. The 2015 settlement required Wisconsin to pay Talgo a total of $51 million and allowed the company to retain the trains. The Wisconsin Legislature approved funds
for new passenger cars for Hiawatha in 2019.
Testing Phase and Passenger Benefits
Following delivery, the nine Siemens railcars will undergo three to four months of commissioning and testing in Chicago before entering service, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The new railcars will increase seating availability and improve service reliability on the busy Milwaukee-Chicago route.
