Illinois Service Explained

Illinois Service
Type:	Inter-city rail
Status:	Operating
Locale:	Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri
First:	November 14, 1971
Operator:	Amtrak
Website:	https://www.amtrak.com/illinois-services-train
Start:	Chicago
End:	St. Louis Quincy Carbondale
Owners:	BNSF, UP, CN

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

Proposed expansion

Two proposed Illinois Service routes have been accepted by the Corridor Identification and Development Program, both in December 2023:

• Chicago–Peoria Prairie Marksman via Joliet, Morris, Ottawa, and LaSalle-Peru^[3]
• 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^[4]

The Quad Cities and the Rockford-Chicago portion of the Black Hawk were to have been added in late 2015^[5] but were put on hold by then-Governor Bruce Rauner.^[6] They were resurrected and funded in 2019 as part of a transportation bill supported by Governor J.B. Pritzker.^[7] In 2023, Pritzker announced that the Rockford-Chicago train will be operated by Metra.^[8]

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.^[9]

See also

• Hiawatha Service

External links

• Illinois Service on Amtrak's website
• Amtrak Illinois on IDOT's website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Governor Blagojevich Announces Amtrak Carl Sandburg to Start Running October 30th . Amtrak . National Railroad Passenger Corporation . December 12, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070311003041/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FNews_Release_Popup&%3Bc=am2Copy&cid=1093554066642 . March 11, 2007 . October 8, 2006 . dead .
2. Web site: Governor Blagojevich Announces Amtrak Lincoln Service to Start Running October 30th . Amtrak . National Railroad Passenger Corporation . December 12, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070312051951/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FNews_Release_Page&%3Bc=am2Copy&cid=1093554067341&ssid=180 . March 12, 2007 . October 14, 2006 . dead .
3. News: Rodriguez . Jolie . December 7, 2023 . Peoria a step closer to Amtrak passenger rail service . 25 News . May 13, 2024.
4. News: Doxsee . Alec . December 7, 2023 . Quad Cities-Chicago rail corridor receives $500K grant . . May 13, 2024.
5. Web site: Bowen. Douglas John. NARP: New Amtrak Midwest routes advance. Railway Age. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc.. May 13, 2024. December 5, 2013.
6. News: . Rauner puts plan for Amtrak service from Chicago to Rockford on hold. May 13, 2024. ABC 7. February 8, 2015.
7. Web site: Rail group celebrates 'big win' for Amtrak line from QC to Chicago. October 23, 2019. WQAD.com. en. May 13, 2024.
8. News: Neveau . James . July 6, 2023 . Metra to restore rail service between Rockford, Chicago for first time in 40 years . NBC 5 Chicago . May 13, 2024.
9. Web site: Edlund. Clare. January 4, 2022. Hannibal coalition works to attract downtown Amtrak station. May 13, 2024. WGEM. en.