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Group gathers in Springfield to promote Amtrak

Posted September 09, 2007 11:00 pm

Chris Wetterich

Proponents of high-speed rail and city officials gathered at the Amtrak station Monday to promote Springfield's five daily routes to Chicago and St. Louis and announce a new Web site to make it easier for people to get information about the trains.

Dan Johnson-Weinberger, spokesman for the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, said the more people use Amtrak, the more likely the state will see truly high-speed trains.

"Illinois has become the national model for improving passenger rail by investing in additional frequencies and showing a much higher ridership," he said. "We believe that there's a lot of people who just haven't thought Amtrak's an option for getting to St. Louis or for coming to Springfield … It's a culture we're trying to change."

Ridership on the St. Louis-Springfield-Chicago route has increased 54 percent over the past year, according to the Amtrak proponents.

Johnson-Weinberger estimated a $10 million to $15 million upgrade of the signaling system between Springfield and Joliet - the "air traffic control for trains" - would allow them to go up to 110 miles per hour between the two cities.

"Part of Illinois First was a phenomenal investment in the track work," he said. "That track work is ready to go."

Additional money would be needed to fix bottlenecks near Union Station in Chicago, Johnson-Weinberger said. But like other capital programs statewide, funding is dependent on getting an agreement between the governor and the General Assembly.

Ward 5 Ald. Sam Cahnman, in whose ward the Amtrak station is, said people should realize "there's no way you're saving money driving" to Chicago.

"You're going to pay for gasoline, pay for parking, and if you go to downtown Chicago, parking is an arm and a leg," Cahnman said, adding that he hopes Amtrak also can improve its on-time service.

According to Amtrak's Web site, fares from Springfield to Chicago are as cheap as $18 each way. Parking in the East Monroe Street garage near Millennium Park - one of the cheapest places to park in downtown Chicago - costs $16 per day.

Springfield has five trains to Chicago each day, leaving at 6:33 a.m., 8:33 a.m., 10:29 a.m., 4:57 p.m. and 7:03 p.m. Those trains have a travel time of about 3 hours and 40 minutes, Johnson-Weinberger said.

Springfield has five trains to St. Louis each day, leaving at 10:15 a.m., 12:50 p.m., 5:14 p.m., 8:39 p.m. and 10:24 p.m. Travel time is typically just over two hours.

The Web site is www.catchanillinoistrain.com.

Chris Wetterich can be reached at (217) 788-1523 or chris.wetterich@sj-r.com.

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