Illinois Amtrak Service

An interesting discussion on improving speeds from downstate into Union Station in Chicago:

snip>>Amtrak trains would run faster between Chicago and Joliet in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s proposal to switch St. Louis-bound trains to less crowded tracks. But IDOT’s project could be even better with a few key changes<<

http://chi.streetsblog.org/2014/02/26/o ... a-service/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is a major construction season underway this year in downstate Illinois on the high(er) speed rail corridor between Chicago and St. Louis. WMBD-31 DT has coverage of the modifications being made through the Normal, IL station.

NORMAL - Traveling from Chicago to St. Louis, and vice versa, could soon happen in a flash. Amtrak is in the midst of a $100 million high speed rail conversion, and Uptown Normal is about to see some major changes to go along with that project. "It'll be a change for them and I can't tell you how they'll perceive that, but I think it's an attractive fence and it does have a very, important safety aspect to it,” said public works director Wayne Aldrich. Throughout the next six months, Amtrak and IDOT crews will start making changes to the track and siding to be ready for faster trains, expected to race through the area.

The Springfield State Journal-Register has a more in depth look at the 2015 construction season:

Amtrak passenger trains should be running at speeds up to 110 mph between Carlinville and Joliet in 2015, based on the latest update of high-speed rail construction from the Illinois Department of Transportation. This year's construction season, the fifth since the $1.5 billion federal-state high-speed rail program began, includes approximately $100 million worth of rail, bridge, siding, crossing and station improvements between St. Louis and Chicago. “We are on schedule to bring most of the Joliet-Carlinville segment to 110 by the end of 2015,” IDOT spokeswoman Paris Ervin said. The upgrades, according to IDOT, will allow for 110-mph service between Carlinville and Joliet that was first begun in 2012 on the section between Pontiac and Dwight. The goal is 110-mph service on the entire St. Louis-Chicago corridor in 2017. Work in the Springfield area includes siding upgrades at Auburn, Carlinville, Elkhart, Girard, Lincoln and just north of Springfield.

gokeefe wrote:There is a major construction season underway this year in downstate Illinois on the high(er) speed rail corridor between Chicago and St. Louis.

The Springfield State Journal-Register has a more in depth look at the 2015 construction season:

. . . Amtrak passenger trains should be running at speeds up to 110 mph between Carlinville and Joliet in 2015, based on the latest update of high-speed rail construction from the Illinois Department of Transportation. This year's construction season, the fifth since the $1.5 billion federal-state high-speed rail program began, includes approximately $100 million worth of rail, bridge, siding, crossing and station improvements between St. Louis and Chicago.

“We are on schedule to bring most of the Joliet-Carlinville segment to 110 by the end of 2015,” IDOT spokeswoman Paris Ervin said. . . .

The goal is 110-mph service on the entire St. Louis-Chicago corridor in 2017.

Interesting report.

But sorry. The article derailed coming round that last bend.
No way will Chicago-Joliet or Alton-St Louis be ready for
110-mph service in 2017. They don't even have funding
lined up for those final segments. They won't be ready to
shoot thru Springfield on upgraded tracks, for that matter.

On the Illinois DOT page, they used to claim that 75% of
the route will be carrying 110-mph trains. That's going to
be very good.

Yet the whole St Louis-Chicago project has been over-promised.
With a billion spent on the 75%, and a few hundred million
spent on new bi-level cars and new diesels, they will chop
at least 30 minutes out of the schedules of the four
Lincoln service trains. (Not sure the Texas Eagle will go
any faster at all.)

If you want to get the sort-of-promised, diddy-wah-diddy
full hour trip time cut, that'll take another billion or more --
and a few more years.

Per TRAINS News Wire: Amtrak and the City of Memphis are in discussions about a possible extension of the Illini and Saluki to Memphis.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Officials with Amtrak and the city of Memphis have met to discuss the possibility of increasing rail passenger service to the west Tennessee city, the Memphis Flyer reports. This would entail extending one or both of the state-supported Chicago-Carbondale, Ill., round trips more than 200 miles south to Memphis.

gokeefe wrote:Per TRAINS News Wire: Amtrak and the City of Memphis are in discussions about a possible extension of the Illini and Saluki to Memphis.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Officials with Amtrak and the city of Memphis have met to discuss the possibility of increasing rail passenger service to the west Tennessee city, the Memphis Flyer reports. This would entail extending one or both of the state-supported Chicago-Carbondale, Ill., round trips more than 200 miles south to Memphis.

I will love to see another train from Chicago to Memphis, but the final decision will be on Canadian National if more passenger trains runs on it's rail.

Woody wrote:

gokeefe wrote:There is a major construction season underway this year in downstate Illinois on the high(er) speed rail corridor between Chicago and St. Louis.

The Springfield State Journal-Register has a more in depth look at the 2015 construction season:

. . . Amtrak passenger trains should be running at speeds up to 110 mph between Carlinville and Joliet in 2015, based on the latest update of high-speed rail construction from the Illinois Department of Transportation. This year's construction season, the fifth since the $1.5 billion federal-state high-speed rail program began, includes approximately $100 million worth of rail, bridge, siding, crossing and station improvements between St. Louis and Chicago.

“We are on schedule to bring most of the Joliet-Carlinville segment to 110 by the end of 2015,” IDOT spokeswoman Paris Ervin said. . . .

The goal is 110-mph service on the entire St. Louis-Chicago corridor in 2017.

Interesting report.

But sorry. The article derailed coming round that last bend.
No way will Chicago-Joliet or Alton-St Louis be ready for
110-mph service in 2017. They don't even have funding
lined up for those final segments. They won't be ready to
shoot thru Springfield on upgraded tracks, for that matter.

On the Illinois DOT page, they used to claim that 75% of
the route will be carrying 110-mph trains. That's going to
be very good.

Yet the whole St Louis-Chicago project has been over-promised.
With a billion spent on the 75%, and a few hundred million
spent on new bi-level cars and new diesels, they will chop
at least 30 minutes out of the schedules of the four
Lincoln service trains. (Not sure the Texas Eagle will go
any faster at all.)

If you want to get the sort-of-promised, diddy-wah-diddy
full hour trip time cut, that'll take another billion or more --
and a few more years.

Well, if this presentation by IDOT on July 15, 2014 is correct...

http://www.idothsr.org/pdf/arlingtonhei ... _final.pdf

30 minutes will be shaved off the Lincoln route in late 2015, between Joliet and Carlinville. Another 30 minutes will be lopped off when 110MPH max speed will be available from Joliet to East St. Louis in late 2017. Will that entire 30 minutes come from the section between Carlinville and East St. Louis? It doesn't say. But considering it currently takes as long as 90 minutes to travel the 60 miles between Carlinville and St. Louis, it might be possible. It might also be taking into account some time savings as a result of work being done along the 3rd Street track in Springfield.

I think either the reporter or the IDOT spokesperson may have flubbed it when they said that the entire route will be 110MPH capable by end of 2017.

The Chicago-Joliet segment, the Granite City-St. Louis segment, and the Springfield 10th Street consolidation and Springfield Flyover, are still undergoing study, and, as you alluded to, are not currently funded.

If the presentation is correct, by late 2017, the Lincoln Service will go from around 5:30 currently (ave. speed-51MPH) down to 4:30 (ave. speed- 63MPH). If the final pieces of the puzzle eventually fall into place, perhaps it could bring the time down to 3:45-3:30 (ave. speed 76 to 81MPH).

JamesT4 wrote:

gokeefe wrote:Per TRAINS News Wire: Amtrak and the City of Memphis are in discussions about a possible extension of the Illini and Saluki to Memphis.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Officials with Amtrak and the city of Memphis have met to discuss the possibility of increasing rail passenger service to the west Tennessee city, the Memphis Flyer reports. This would entail extending one or both of the state-supported Chicago-Carbondale, Ill., round trips more than 200 miles south to Memphis.

I will love to see another train from Chicago to Memphis, but the final decision will be on Canadian National if more passenger trains runs on it's rail.

No doubt about it. Note that this is only a discussion of extending current trains. Far less complicated than adding frequencies. Memphis is in fact adding frequencies of course but they are doing so using trainsets that already have slots on CN anyways. Capital improvements will likely be required but again, these should only be south of Carbondale. Possible fodder for a TIGER grant.....

MisterUptempo wrote: ... presentation by IDOT on July 15, 2014 ...

http://www.idothsr.org/pdf/arlingtonhei ... _final.pdf

30 minutes will be shaved off the Lincoln route in late 2015, between Joliet and Carlinville. Another 30 minutes will be lopped off when 110MPH max speed will be available from Joliet to East St. Louis in late 2017.

Will that entire 30 minutes come from the section between Carlinville and East St. Louis? It doesn't say. But considering it currently takes as long as 90 minutes to travel the 60 miles between Carlinville and St. Louis, it might be possible. It might also be taking into account some time savings as a result of work being done along the 3rd Street track in Springfield.
...
The Chicago-Joliet segment, the Granite City-St. Louis segment, and the Springfield 10th Street consolidation and Springfield Flyover, are still undergoing study, and ... are not currently funded.

If the presentation is correct, by late 2017, the Lincoln Service will go from around 5:30 currently (ave. speed-51MPH) down to 4:30 (ave. speed- 63MPH). If the final pieces of the puzzle eventually fall into place, perhaps it could bring the time down to 3:45-3:30 (ave. speed 76 to 81MPH).

Thanks. A very interesting report, updating and clarifying things.

One point jumped out at me. It says they are buying six (6) equipment sets for trains St Louis-Chicago. But last I heard, the deal between Illinois DOT and the UP called for four (4) slots each way for the state's fast trains (and Texas Eagle take the hindmost). I could see one extra consist as standby or spare, but two? Dare we hope there could be one more frequency being added after all?

No contract is in effect forever. There will be changes will the project is closer to completion.

One point jumped out at me. It says they are buying six (6) equipment sets for trains St Louis-Chicago. But last I heard, the deal between Illinois DOT and the UP called for four (4) slots each way for the state's fast trains (and Texas Eagle take the hindmost). I could see one extra consist as standby or spare, but two? Dare we hope there could be one more frequency being added after all?[/quote]


The 2 "extra" trainsets are supposed to be used for Chicago-Rockford or the Chicago-Quad Cities trains. It is time to get the funds to do the connections & upgrade track into QC. Hope the Chicago-Rockford is at least in the EIS or design phase on the new route via Elgin. I suppose one could make up a schedule to cover the 2x a day to Quincy & 2 a day to Carbondale + cover some of the Milwaukee trains & the Michigan services.

It may be possible for 1 set to have a shorter route, just to Springfield & return. Train was called the "State house".

Woody wrote:Thanks. A very interesting report, updating and clarifying things.

One point jumped out at me. It says they are buying six (6) equipment sets for trains St Louis-Chicago. But last I heard, the deal between Illinois DOT and the UP called for four (4) slots each way for the state's fast trains (and Texas Eagle take the hindmost). I could see one extra consist as standby or spare, but two? Dare we hope there could be one more frequency being added after all?

The following article from the Chicago Sun-Times(for which I am invoking Fair Use) might answer the questions regarding the time reductions set for 2017 as well as the reason for 6 trainsets for the Lincoln Service, instead of just 4...

Quinn announces $102 million investment for high-speed rail
Sun, 08/31/2014 - 1:59pm
Matt McKinney

A key swath of the high-speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis is set to get $102 million in upgrades, Gov. Pat Quinn announced on Sunday.

Officials plan to build a second set of tracks between downstate Mazonia and Elwood and a new bridge over the Kankakee River between Joliet and Dwight.

The two-year project will reduce travel times between Chicago and St. Louis from five-and-a-half hours to four-and-a-half hours, Quinn said in a written statement.

Once completed, the improvements put the final upgrades in place between Joliet and Dwight in anticipation of the eventual double-tracking of the remainder of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor. This double-tracking will then allow more daily round-trips at increased 110-mph speeds. Trains now travel at 110 mph between Dwight and Pontiac.

The entire article is available at the following URL-

http://politics.suntimes.com/article/sp ... 2014-159pm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MisterUptempo wrote:

Woody wrote:Thanks. ...
One point jumped out at me. It says they are buying six (6) equipment sets for trains St Louis-Chicago. But last I heard, the deal between Illinois DOT and the UP called for four (4) slots each way for the state's fast trains ... Dare we hope there could be one more frequency added after all?

The following article from the Chicago Sun-Times ... might answer the questions regarding the time reductions set for 2017 as well as the reason for 6 trainsets for the Lincoln Service, instead of just 4...

Quinn announces $102 million investment for high-speed rail
Sun, 08/31/2014 , by Matt McKinney

A key swath of the high-speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis is set to get $102 million in upgrades, Gov. Pat Quinn announced on Sunday.

Officials plan to build a second set of tracks [south of Joliet] and a new bridge over the Kankakee River .

The two-year project will reduce travel times between Chicago and St. Louis from five-and-a-half hours to four-and-a-half hours, Quinn said in a written statement.

Once completed, the improvements put the final upgrades in place between Joliet and Dwight in anticipation of the eventual double-tracking of the remainder of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor. This double-tracking will then allow more daily round-trips ...

http://politics.suntimes.com/article/sp ... 2014-159pm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wow, This really is good news. I had no idea that Illinois could come up with another $100 million to keep improving the route. Double-tracking the remainder of the 75% (not to mention Joliet-Chicago, Alton-St Louis, and thru Springfield) could require federal funds of Stimulus-sized amounts. But with the add-on order for bi-level cars, and now this, it's getting close to possible.

The new bi-levels will give them a 30% increase in passenger capacity. But that wouldn't be enuff -- if they cut the trip times first by half an hour and then by another half an hour, in addition to better departure and arrival times made possible by the faster runs, plus the fact that new cars all themselves will attract more riders.

The four daily Lincoln trains carry about 640,000 pax now, increasing seats by 30% could get the count over 800,000. Then adding two more trains, a 50% capacity increase, could see total riders of 1.2 million or so. Now you're talking!

Woody wrote: Wow, This really is good news. I had no idea that Illinois could come up with another $100 million to keep improving the route. Double-tracking the remainder of the 75% (not to mention Joliet-Chicago, Alton-St Louis, and thru Springfield) could require federal funds of Stimulus-sized amounts. But with the add-on order for bi-level cars, and now this, it's getting close to possible.

The new bi-levels will give them a 30% increase in passenger capacity. But that wouldn't be enuff -- if they cut the trip times first by half an hour and then by another half an hour, in addition to better departure and arrival times made possible by the faster runs, plus the fact that new cars all themselves will attract more riders.

The four daily Lincoln trains carry about 640,000 pax now, increasing seats by 30% could get the count over 800,000. Then adding two more trains, a 50% capacity increase, could see total riders of 1.2 million or so. Now you're talking!

Stuff like this is making NYS look bad as we can't seem to do much to improve our service.

GWoodle wrote:The 2 "extra" trainsets are supposed to be used for Chicago-Rockford or the Chicago-Quad Cities trains. It is time to get the funds to do the connections & upgrade track into QC. Hope the Chicago-Rockford is at least in the EIS or design phase on the new route via Elgin. I suppose one could make up a schedule to cover the 2x a day to Quincy & 2 a day to Carbondale + cover some of the Milwaukee trains & the Michigan services.

It may be possible for 1 set to have a shorter route, just to Springfield & return. Train was called the "State house".

The funding for both Chicago-Rockford and Chicago-Quad Cities trains is in place. The Rockford route has $233 million in state funds, the Quad Cities route has $177 million in federal funds and $78 million in state funds.

Delays on the Chicago-Rockford route are due in part because the originally agreed upon route, via CN trackage, didn't happen because CN was asking for too much. So, in April of 2014, IDOT announced the new route to Rockford via Metra-Milwaukee Road West and UP trackage. The only rails that run between Rockford and Dubuque, I believe, belong to CN.

The Rockford route is still on track to begin with one round trip daily at 59MPH max speed in late 2015. In late 2016, when track and signal improvements are finished, they will expand to two round trips daily at 79MPH max speed.

The Quad Cities route has been delayed in part because of Iowa's foot dragging in deciding whether to extend the train into Iowa City. The feds were offering $88 million to Iowa, provided the state came up with $20 million in matching funds. Iowa eventually screwed the pooch in December, 2013.

Also, it apparently took longer to hammer out an agreement with Iowa Interstate, for the use of 53 miles of track between Wyanet and Moline, than anticipated. It was discovered in May that those tracks required far more work than previously thought, which might help explain the delay. IDOT and Iowa Interstate finally agreed to terms in late July, 2014, which now gives Iowa Interstate the green light to draw up plans for much needed track improvements, as well as design work for signalling. Those plans should be complete by year's end.

Once plans are finalized, IDOT and Iowa Interstate have to work out maintenance and operating expenses. Only after those issues have been settled will dates for construction and eventual start of service be announced.

On a hopeful note, work is scheduled to begin this month at BNSF’s Eola Yard in Aurora. The Quad Cities route will run on 109 miles of BNSF trackage, from Chicago to Wyanet.

A half a billion dollars worth of passenger rail investment over the next 5 years in Illinois alone? Good luck finding a historical equivalent to that......

Real estate values in Chicago are going to be on the upswing for years to come.