Amtrak I-41 Thruway Bus Service between Green Bay and Milwaukee to end
The Amtrak I-41 Thruway Bus Service between Green Bay and Milwaukee will cease operation on Oct. 1, 2025. The contract between the state of Wisconsin and the service provider was unable to be renewed as the legislature did not provide adequate resources through the 2025-27 biennial budget to keep the bus service operational. Gov. Tony Evers requested over $15 million in additional funding to support potential passenger rail expansion as well as existing passenger rail-related operations, including this bus service, in his state budget proposal. Ultimately, the legislature provided zero new dollars to support passenger rail-related operations. Ticketing revenue covered a percentage of operational costs for the Thruway bus service, while the state covered the remaining costs via WisDOT’s passenger rail program. Operational costs continue to rise due to equipment and maintenance needs along with inflation.
WisDOT recognizes this may cause inconvenience for some travelers in the short term as they adjust to alternative options. A list of alternative available bus services across the state, including service between Green Bay and Milwaukee, can be found on WisDOT’s website. WisDOT’s Intercity Bus Route Map is another resource that shows routes for other state funded transit services and private bus services operating throughout Wisconsin.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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I remember when that bus service started around 1970.
Caught some of the last Milwaukee to Green Bay trains
just before that. They were Chicago and Northwestern
back then, not Amtrak.
Multiple other bus services? I only know of one that’s timed to connect with Amtrak (Lamers). That bus goes to Wausau, so to get to Green Bay, a change at Appleton is needed.
45 years in the City: They are referring, perhaps unhelpfully, to Indian Trails and Coach USA’s services via Manitowoc.
https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/pub-transit/icbus-map.pdf
Thanks B. Neumann. I now see the service via the Lake Shore route. As you point out, it’s not very helpful – especially for the Fox Valley cities.