 As announced on July 20 by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, construction
will begin in early September on the Chicago to St. Louis high-speed
rail route. An agreement between the Illinois Department of
Transportation and Union Pacific will allow upgrades to be made on
an initial 90-mile segment of Union Pacific track to prepare it for
high-speed rail. The $98 million project is funded through the
federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will support an
estimated 900 jobs.Additional temporary changes in Amtrak service
to and from Springfield will be announced later this month, before
the start of track improvements from south of Springfield to north
of Alton. These track upgrades and others north of Springfield will
include the installation of new, high-speed rail and concrete ties.
This work is expected to be complete by year's end.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has been a partner with
Amtrak for nearly 39 years and has made significant progress on the
Chicago-St. Louis Lincoln Service corridor in cooperation with the
Union Pacific, which owns the right of way south of Joliet and
operates rail freight services on the line. Extensive rehabilitation
of the track and signal systems has been performed between
Springfield and Dwight, but this will be the first major improvement
between Springfield and Alton.
In January, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal
Railroad Administration awarded $1.2 billion in ARRA funds for
high-speed passenger rail to Illinois -- one of only three states to
receive an award of more than $1 billion. Illinois was among 31
states chosen to receive a total of $8 billion that President Obama
and Congress made available for high-speed passenger rail. The
Illinois Department of Transportation estimates federal investment
in high-speed rail is expected to create 6,000 jobs in the state.
Illinois' high-speed rail signature route, Chicago to St. Louis,
received $1.1 billion for corridor improvements. These improvements
will allow Amtrak Lincoln Service trains to operate at speeds up to
110 mph and will include new locomotives and passenger cars,
rebuilding of track, additional highway-rail grade crossing active
warning devices, and implementation of state-of-the-art safety
technology.
Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation will
announce forthcoming temporary service changes and provide reports
via the state's Amtrak Illinois website. Passenger service notices
will be posted at stations and will be displayed as part of the
booking process on Amtrak.com.
About Amtrak
As the nation's intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak
connects America in safer, greener, healthier ways. In fiscal 2009,
the railroad carried 27.2 million passengers, making it the
second-best year in the company's history. With 21,000 route miles
in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces,
Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day -- at speeds up to 150
mph -- to more than 500 destinations. Amtrak also is the partner of
choice for state-supported corridor services in 15 states and for
several commuter rail agencies. Visit
Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL
(800-872-7245) for schedules, fares and more information.
About IDOT
The Illinois Department of Transportation provides safe,
cost-effective transportation for Illinois in ways that enhance
quality of life, promote economic prosperity and demonstrate respect
for our environment. IDOT provides leadership throughout Illinois
for the improvement and coordination of the state's multifaceted
transportation system and serves as an advocate and trusted adviser
to local governments and other community agencies involved in
providing transportation access and services for all of Illinois.
For more information, visit
http://www.dot.il.gov/.
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 Passenger
service notice
Temporary service change
Lincoln Service trains 303 and 304
Effective Aug. 6-12 and Aug. 16-19
Amtrak Lincoln Service trains 303 and 304 will not operate
between Springfield and St. Louis Aug. 6-12 and Aug. 16-19 due to
track work being performed by Union Pacific Railroad. Other Amtrak
trains on the route will operate normally.
Train 303
Train 303, which normally operates from Chicago to St. Louis,
will terminate in Springfield. Alternate transportation will be
provided to passengers:
-
Passengers at
Springfield traveling to St. Louis will be provided express
motor coach service to allow connections to Missouri River
Runner trains.
-
Passengers at
Springfield traveling to Carlinville and Alton will be provided
separate motor coach service.
-
Passengers scheduled to board Train 303
at Carlinville and Alton will be provided motor coach service to
St. Louis.
Train 304
Train 304, which normally operates from St. Louis to Chicago,
will originate in Springfield. Alternate transportation will be
provided to passengers:
-
Passengers
traveling from St. Louis to Springfield and subsequent stops
will be provided express motor coach service to Springfield,
where they will board Train 304. This motor coach will depart
St. Louis at 2 p.m., one hour earlier than the train's normal
departure time.
-
Passengers
traveling from St. Louis to Alton and Carlinville will be
provided motor coach service. This service will depart St.
Louis at 2 p.m., one hour earlier than the train's normal
departure time.
-
Passengers
traveling from Alton and Carlinville will be provided motor
coach service to Springfield. This service will depart Alton
at 2:46 p.m. and Carlinville at 3:15 p.m., one hour earlier than
the train's normal departure times.
Amtrak thanks passengers for traveling with the Amtrak service, appreciates
their patronage and apologizes for any inconvenience they may
experience. For reservations and information, visit
Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL
(800-872-7245).
[Text from
Amtrak news release]
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