| Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail | |
| Type: | Inter-city rail |
| Status: | Planning |
| Predecessor: | Black Hawk |
| First: | Late |
| Operator: | Metra |
| Website: | https://chicagotorockfordrail.org/ |
| Start: | Chicago Union Station |
| Stops: | 5 (2 existing, 3 proposed) |
| End: | Rockford |
| Journeytime: | 95 minutes |
| Frequency: | Two daily roundtrips |
| Line Used: | Milwaukee District West, Belvidere Subdivision |
| Speed: | 79mph |
| Owners: | Metra, CPKC, Union Pacific |
The Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail is a proposed Metra inter-city rail service between Chicago and Rockford, Illinois. The project is being led by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) funded with $275 million through the Rebuild Illinois capital plan. The route is expected to begin by late 2027, reinstating rail service to Rockford for the first time in over 40 years after the discontinuation of Amtrak's Black Hawk in 1981.[1]
The service will operate without stops along the Milwaukee District West Line between Chicago Union Station and Elgin, with a stop at one of the three existing Metra stations. The route will continue west beyond on a new connection to Union Pacific's Belvidere Subdivision. The service will have two intermediate stops in Huntley and Belvidere before terminating in downtown Rockford.[2]
The route has yet to receive an official name, with Metra interested in branding the service to distinguish it from its existing commuter rail network.[3]
The route will service five stations at two existing and three new facilities. Existing stations will be located at Chicago Union Station, the line's east terminal, and at an existing station in Elgin, either National Street, downtown Elgin, or Big Timber Road. Station locations and designs in Huntley, Belvidere, and Rockford need to be determined, with preliminary plans expected by November 1, 2023.[4]
Fares are yet to be determined, and are expected to be structured differently than existing commuter rail fares. IDOT and Metra are working together to determine appropriate pricing. One reason Metra was selected as an operator over Amtrak was existing fare integration with other Chicago area transit authorities.[5]
| County | Location | Station | Connections | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago | Rockford | Proposed station; to open by 2027 | Station to be located downtown, west of Main Street on or near the site of the previous Chicago & North Western station[6] | ||
| Boone | Belvidere | Proposed station; to open by 2027 | Station to be located downtown, east of State Street adjacent to the Boone County Museum of History[7] | ||
| McHenry | Huntley | Proposed station; to open by 2027 | Station location to be determined[8] | ||
| Kane | Elgin | Metra: Pace Bus | Existing station to be determined | ||
| Cook | Chicago | Amtrak (long-distance): California Zephyr, Capitol Limited,,, Empire Builder, Lake Shore Limited, Southwest Chief, Texas Eagle Amtrak (intercity):,, Hiawatha,,, Lincoln Service,, Metra:,,,, Chicago "L": (at), (at) CTA Bus: 1, 7, J14, 19, 28, 56, 60, 120, 121, 124, 125, 126, 128, 130, 151, 156, 157, 192 Pace Bus: 755 Plainfield–IMD–West Loop Express Amtrak Thruway: Chicago–Madison and Chicago–Rockford (Van Galder), Chicago–Louisville (Greyhound) |