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The Case for a High-Speed Rail Station in East St. Louis
What St. Louis needs in a new station
Illustrations by Wiktor Klosowksi
The Illinois High Speed Rail Commission is designing and planning a high-speed line linking Chicago and St. Louis.
This is a huge project for both cities and the entire Midwest, as it inches the region closer to making fast and frequent trains a reality.
With the probability of more rail traffic on the horizon, St. Louis needs a modern facility that can handle more capacity. A standard the current Gateway Station would not meet.
For the city’s first phase of high-speed rail, St. Louis should build a new station that optimizes high-speed train runtimes of 2 hours or less between Chicago and strong transit connectivity to the entire region.
To achieve that, it might be best to look just outside the city center.
A new station for modern trains
We propose building a new station adjacent to downtown East St. Louis on land between Interstates 55 & 64 and the Union Pacific right-of-way where current Amtrak services run. This site is currently occupied by a pallet company and a few vacant lots, and it checks every box for what St. Louis needs in a station.
This location is optimal for faster travel to and from Chicago, establishes a new state-of-the-art transit hub for the region, and can stimulate economic activity in a hollowed-out downtown East St. Louis.
Avoid crossing the Mississippi River in the first phase
St. Louis’s first high-speed trains to Chicago will likely start right across the Mississippi River in East St. Louis, IL, because the current design project is run solely by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The State of Missouri is not involved.
But this isn’t all bad. The river crossing is the most difficult and expensive component of a new Chicago–St. Louis high-speed line. A station in downtown East St. Louis would allow service to get started without tackling this difficult project right away.
And, trains terminating on the Illinois side will avoid the slow trip across the river, likely saving 10 minutes or more.
A quick connection to downtown
A station in downtown East St. Louis is a quick light rail or taxi trip across the Mississippi with:
- Easy access to on-ramps and exits for all three nearby bridges that cross the Mississippi.
- Direct transfers to St. Louis light rail.
Taking a high-speed train into downtown East St. Louis and connecting to local transit to get downtown will be faster than going all the way into Gateway Station and back tracking to downtown.
Strong connections to the entire metro-area
A station site in downtown East St. Louis would offer excellent highway access. It would be well-positioned near on-ramps and exits for Interstates 55 and 64, which also connect to Interstates 44 and 70 within a few miles.
Direct connection to the light rail system also allows travel through central St. Louis all the way to Lambert International Airport and a few suburbs beyond city limits. Going east on the Illinois side, passengers can go out to Shiloh, IL, with an extension to the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport set to open in 2026.
Access for intercity buses
A new station in East St. Louis should accommodate easy travel for feeder buses to create a new convenient multi-modal transit hub for the region.
It should be positioned near on-ramps and exits of the nearby interstates to enable easy travel from the station directly to multiple cities all over Missouri, downstate Illinois, and other cities like Evansville, IN, and Paducah, KY.
Handle at least 3 trains per hour.
Illinois should aim for 25 daily roundtrips for high-speed trains to maximize the potential of the corridor, meaning the new station should be able to accommodate two high-speed trains in each direction per hour.
There should also be capacity for one Amtrak train per hour in each direction for trains on the existing Union Pacific route.
Prepare for a second phase to Kansas City
The station should be designed as a through station with the assumption that a new Mississippi River bridge will be constructed as part of an extension to Columbia and Kansas City.
High speed trains should eventually run similar operations to Amtrak’s Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner, where trains between Chicago and Kansas City through-run in St. Louis.
What Needs to Happen to Bring Great Trains to Illinois?
Train riders, community leaders, and engaged advocates need to persuade Springfield to:
- Treat transit as a statewide issue
- Fund new bridges, better track, and high-performance trains
- Help communities build walkable, enjoyable communities around railway stations
- Expand the Bureau of Railroads to effectively manage the program
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
Multiple bills have been introduced to support an integrated railway program. Learn more here.
Become a member
Join thousands of advocates across the state working to make fast trains a reality.
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