Illinois Needs an Integrated Railway Program

Great trains will change the way the world sees Illinois

 

Help make it happen

Building on Success, Planning for the Future

Traveling by train and bus across Illinois should be convenient, comfortable, and affordable.

Illinois has the foundation for a great system. Passenger trains already run on many key routes and the state is planning expansions.

It’s time for an aggressive program to expand existing routes and build new ones.  That means consistent funding to replace out-of-date bridges, build better track, and make grade crossings safer.

The state legislature is debating the future of transit. Providing the Bureau of Railroads and Metra with the resources they need to reconnect the state needs to be a part of the fix.

Learn what’s happening in Springfield

How you can get involved

Sign the Petition

Tell Springfield you want great trains.

Download the Booklet

Download a printable overview of the needed plan.

Learn about progress in Springfield

See if your local leader has endorsed the plan.

A map showing a potential high-speed and regional rail network connecting all metros in Illinois to each other and to smaller towns.

Statewide Railway Program Goals

It should be convenient and affordable to travel throughout the state for a wide variety of trips, at all times of day.

  • All cities an easy, fast ride to Chicago, O’Hare or Springfield
  • Connecting all metropolitan areas with same-day round-trips
  • Chicago to St. Louis in only 2 hours at 220 mph
  • Easy access to O’Hare from anywhere in Illinois

We need a visionary, integrated plan to achieve these goals. And we need reliable state funding to back it up.

Success Factors

Icon of circle arrow with 15-minutes in center

Frequent Departures, All Day

Trains should run often, all day, so you can travel when you like. At least one train every 15 minutes in Cook County, at least every two hours downstate.

An icon of a clock face with 6 hands.

Speed

High acceleration and level boarding make trains faster, cut travel times, boost convenience, and draw more riders—amplifying benefits for everyone.

Affordable Fares

Affordable fares, speed, and comfort make trains the easy choice. Frequent service keeps costs low, boosts ridership, and drives revenue growth.

An icon illustrating a station node in a network.

Coordinated Schedules

Coordinated bus and train schedules ensure your journey is seamless, effortless, and affordable.

The Normal, IL station and its clock tower of the are seen with the "living plaza" in the foreground.

Success Story

Building Prosperous Communities

Normal is thriving after redesigning its downtown around a new train station and the increased speeds and frequency of its Amtrak service. Now it offers affordable housing, good jobs, and a high quality of life—and it’s an easy train ride to Chicago.

A state railway program would repeat this success statewide.

Learn more about the Normal, IL success

Integrated Network Components

An integrated rail network in Illinois would consist of these parts–well coordinated to offer fast, frequent, and affordable travel to every corner of the state. The network would support, and be supported by, better local transit and more walkable communities.

Downstate Regional Rail

  • Up to 110 mph on shared freight track
  • Link cities and towns of all sizes
  • Some trains could include amenities for long distance trips; others could feature denser seating for short commutes
Passengers are waiting on the platform as a soiuthbound Metra electric train arrives.

Metra Regional Rail

  • Different service patterns tailored to each route
  • Designed to serve many types of trips, throughout the day
  • Easy connections through downtown
  • Extend beyond traditional RTA service boundaries

High-Speed Rail

  • Reach up to 220 mph on high-speed, grade separated, electrified lines
  • Serve the needs of different riders—from premium express service to lower-cost local trains
  • Amenities like business class and cafe cars
A passegner has just gotten off a bus.

Regional Buses

  • Extend the network to cities and towns not on the core rail network
  • Arrive and depart in sync with connecting trains
  • Included on the same ticket with connecting train

A statewide railway program would improve both freight and passenger rail.

Expanded Freight Service

One critical but overlooked way a statewide rail plan improves passenger-rail service is by improving freight-rail service.

When freight-train conditions deteriorate, the ripple-out effects make passenger-rail worse. And the same is true in reverse. When infrastructure investments improve freight-rail systems, passenger trains run faster and with fewer delays. It’s a classic win-win.

But that can happen only with an integrated railway program.

The program should be driven by an integrated network plan

A connected rail network multiplies value by dramatically expanding travel options.

Instead of isolated routes with limited destinations, an integrated system allows seamless transfers, enabling more people to travel farther, faster, and with greater flexibility.

This connectivity creates a powerful virtuous cycle: more ridership fuels investments in better service, which attracts even more riders, driving further improvements. A growing network serves more communities, boosting its practicality and appeal for users with diverse needs.

And, an integrated plan can identify key investments that impact several routes.

Segmenting Planning

Typically, transit planning looks at each segment independently. Each segment has few opportunities for use. Therefore, each segment appears to have low ridership potential.

Network Planning

When connecting between trains and buses is easy, each segment offers many more opportunities for use. The whole system becomes more useful, more financially viable, and has stronger political backing.

A Model for Illinois

California has been investing heavily in passenger rail, intercity buses, and local transit since 1990. They published the first integrated rail plan in 2018. And, they have two high-speed rail projects underway.

California is seeking a 10-fold increase in train and bus ridership!

Learn more about the CA rail plan

California’s Surfliner offers 16 daily departures.

What Needs to Happen?

Years of under-investment have left transit agencies unable to adapt to changing travel patterns. The General Assembly is debating how to restructure and invest in a better system.

Train riders and local leaders need to work together to persuade Springfield to think big. We need an integrated railway program that connects transit agencies statewide into an integrated network.

Here’s how you can help

Sign the Petition

Ask Springfield to create a statewide railway program, guided by an integrated plan.

See progress in Springfield

Download a sample letter you can give to your mayor or city council.

Become a member

Join thousands of advocates across the state working to make fast trains a reality.

The Capitol Building in Springfield, IL

Get Involved

The Illinois General Assembly is debating the future transit and regional rail right now.  The package should include a State Railway Program to invest in bridges, trainsets, and better track.

Learn how you can get involved