and after the 1995 takeover of the CNW by the Union Pacific, in 1998 UP announced intentions to abandon the line from Hayward Junction where it connected to the Wisconsin Central 13 mi to the north through Spooner all the way down to Chippewa Falls. The company bought the portion of the line between Spooner and Hayward Junction in 1999, which greatly expanded passenger operations.

To this day they run popular robbery, western style, cowboy,