Illinois Service

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The Chicago–Quincy Illinois Zephyr, an Illinois Service train.
Amtrak routes in Illinois. Continuous red lines are current Illinois Service routes, dashed red lines are planned Illinois Service routes, and blue lines are other long distance Amtrak routes.

The Illinois Service, branded Amtrak Illinois, comprises three long distance 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).

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[]

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 exisiting 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[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Governor Blagojevich Announces Amtrak Carl Sandburg to Start Running October 30th". Amtrak. National Railroad Passenger Corporation. 8 October 2006. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Governor Blagojevich Announces Amtrak Lincoln Service to Start Running October 30th". Amtrak. National Railroad Passenger Corporation. 14 October 2006. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  3. ^ Bowen, Douglas John (5 December 2013). "NARP: New Amtrak Midwest routes advance". Railway Age. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Plan for Amtrak service from Chicago to Rockford on hold". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Rail group celebrates 'big win' for Amtrak line from QC to Chicago". WQAD.com. 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  6. ^ Edlund, Clare (2022-01-04). "Hannibal coalition works to attract downtown Amtrak station". WGEM. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
  7. ^ "Proposed Peoria Amtrak route unveiled. Here are the next steps to restore train travel". Journal Star. Retrieved 2022-01-27.

External links[]

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