The Illinois Service, branded Amtrak Illinois, comprises three passenger rail routes operated by Amtrak in the American state of Illinois. The Illinois Service is funded primarily by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and falls under the broader Amtrak Midwest brand.
Chicago is a terminus for all three Illinois Service routes, which all have multiple daily round trips:
- Chicago–Quincy: two round trips daily, the Illinois Zephyr and the Carl Sandburg[1]
- Chicago–St. Louis Lincoln Service: four round trips daily and the only route that serves another state[2]
- Chicago–Carbondale: two round trips daily, the Illini and the Saluki, and the only route whose trains have checked baggage service[1]
Proposed expansion edit
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There are plans for two new Illinois Service routes:
- Chicago–Rockford Black Hawk: based on a former service to Dubuque that ran from 1974 to 1981, the route will use Metra and Union Pacific lines west from Chicago via Elgin
- Chicago–Moline Quad Cities: uses the existing Chicago–Quincy route between Chicago and Princeton, branching from it west of Wyanet to serve the Quad Cities via Geneseo
The routes were to have been added in late 2015[3] but were put on hold by then-Governor Bruce Rauner.[4] They were resurrected and funded in 2019 as part of a transportation bill supported by Governor J.B. Pritzker.[5]
In addition to the two new routes, a committee was formed in late 2021 to study and promote extending the Chicago–Quincy route to Hannibal, Missouri.[6]
In early 2022, studies are underway to reinstate Amtrak service to Peoria from Chicago.[7]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Governor Blagojevich Announces Amtrak Carl Sandburg to Start Running October 30th". Amtrak. National Railroad Passenger Corporation. October 8, 2006. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- ^ "Governor Blagojevich Announces Amtrak Lincoln Service to Start Running October 30th". Amtrak. National Railroad Passenger Corporation. October 14, 2006. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- ^ Bowen, Douglas John (December 5, 2013). "NARP: New Amtrak Midwest routes advance". Railway Age. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
- ^ "Plan for Amtrak service from Chicago to Rockford on hold". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. February 9, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ "Rail group celebrates 'big win' for Amtrak line from QC to Chicago". WQAD.com. October 23, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ Edlund, Clare (January 4, 2022). "Hannibal coalition works to attract downtown Amtrak station". WGEM. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Proposed Peoria Amtrak route unveiled. Here are the next steps to restore train travel". Journal Star. Retrieved January 27, 2022.