Amtrak Trains

There are essentially 2 types of trains that Amtrak operates — regional/commuter trains and long-distance trains, each with their benefits and services.

Regional Trains

Regional trains are those trains that tend to serve major cities in high-traffic areas of the country. Traditionally, these trains do not overnight along the way and offer multiple frequencies daily.

Some examples of regional trains include:

These trains tend to offer coach class seating, business class (or first class on Acela), a café car, and reserved seating.

Bottom Line: Regional trains tend to have a coach class and premium seating and run between major cities, usually within a specific area of the country.

Long-Distance Trains

These services operate overnight between major cities and traditionally only operate once a day.

Some examples of long-distance trains include:

These trains are usually equipped with coach class, sleeping cars, an observation car, a dining car, and checked baggage.

Bottom Line: Long-distance trains run between cities on opposite ends of the country, and usually feature coach class seats, sleeping compartments, and onboard dining.


Milwaukee

For a day or overnight trip, travel to Milwaukee on the Hiawatha Amtrak route. Travel time is about 1.5 hours, and you’ll arrive near the Historic Third Ward neighborhood and the RiverWalk. There are several museums and a zoo to explore, including the Harley-Davidson Museum, which is in walking distance of the Amtrak station. You can also go to a sporting event, visit the many breweries or attend one of the city’s many festivals.

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