Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail Explained

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]

Stations and fares

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]

CountyLocationStationConnectionsNotes
WinnebagoRockfordProposed station; to open by 2027Station to be located downtown, west of Main Street on or near the site of the previous Chicago & North Western station[6]
BooneBelvidereProposed station; to open by 2027Station to be located downtown, east of State Street adjacent to the Boone County Museum of History[7]
McHenryHuntleyProposed station; to open by 2027Station location to be determined[8]
KaneElgin Metra:
Pace Bus
Existing station to be determined
CookChicago 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)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Kolkey . Jeff . Now boarding: Everything you need to know about Rockford's new Metra line to Chicago . 7 September 2023 . Rockford Register Star.
  2. News: Studenkov . Igor . I want you to want commuter rail: Pritzker announces $275M award to Metra to restore Rockford-Chicago train service . 7 September 2023 . Streetsblog Chicago . 6 July 2023 . en.
  3. News: Freishtat . Sarah . IL: Metra was chosen to operate service to Rockford. That could help the commuter rail as it struggles to bring back riders . 7 September 2023 . Chicago Tribune . Mass Transit . 19 July 2023.
  4. News: Studenkov . Igor . Metra Board of Directors officially signs off on planning Rockford service via Memorandum of Understanding with IDOT . 7 September 2023 . Streetsblog Chicago . 21 July 2023 . en.
  5. News: Haas . Kevin . Rail Q & A: Answers to 12 key questions about passenger rail between Rockford and Chicago . 7 September 2023 . Rock River Current . 6 July 2023.
  6. News: Johnston . Bob . Illinois chooses Metra to operate Chicago-Rockford service . 7 September 2023 . Trains . 9 July 2023.
  7. News: Haas . Kevin . 'It's going to be really dynamic': Belvidere primed for new downtown train station after Metra pick . 7 September 2023 . Rock River Current . 10 July 2023.
  8. News: Borcia . Sam . Metra station to be built in Huntley as governor announces passenger train service from Rockford to Chicago . 7 September 2023 . Lake and McHenry County Scanner . 7 July 2023.