A Good Foundation with a Lot of Room to Grow
Chicago has direct service to 525 stations in 36 states. But there are two sides to that story.
First, that’s a lot of places. Illinois truly is the heart of America’s rail network. And yet, there are only 27 daily roundtrips from all those places to and from Chicago. Japan’s Tokaido Shinkansen in comparison offers 150 daily roundtrips – on a single line serving only 18 stations.
With its massive rail infrastructure, Illinois should be the epicenter of a robust network of fast and frequent trains. The economic impact would transform the state and reach across the nation.
The State of Illinois needs an Integrated Network Plan and dedicated, consistent funding for the network.

Freedom, Opportunity, and Prosperity Statewide
Illinois is huge. Residents in Cairo and Chicago might be in different countries. Champaign is a tedious drive to Quincy. And Chicago and O’Hare are hard for everyone to get to.
An integrated network of high-speed trains, regional trains and frequent buses can change that. It can make it easier for people to travel longer distances, work, and be home for dinner. It can allow businesses to expand their locations. It can make the entire state more productive and more connected.
Great trains are for everyone. It’s the fast track for growing Illinois.
Building on Success
Illinois has a long history of partnering with Amtrak, Metra, and privately-owned railroads to provide valuable links between Chicago and other Illinois communities. Ridership has grown steadily, despite infrequent departures and out-of-date trains.
Metra
Metra operates eleven routes from four downtown stations. It is time to convert Metra to Regional Rail so that more people can take more trips throughout the day.
The South Shore
operates frequent service to Michigan City, IN and five trains a day to South Bend. A big expansion program is adding more frequent trains on the mainline and building a new branch to Dyer.
State-Supported
Seven routes link Chicago to downstate cities, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Michigan, These routes need much more frequent service.
Night Trains
Eight Inter-Regional routes radiate out from Chicago to the Coasts. These long neglected trains link small towns to big cities across the Midwest.
There are many proposed expansions that – if completed – would improve mobility across the state. Illinois needs a comprehensive Integrated Network Plan and the state matching funds to move it forward..
Chicago – St. Louis 110-mph Project
Illinois partnered with the Union Pacific Railroad to rebuild most of the Chicago – St. Louis Lincoln Corridor for 110 mph. It offers important lessons for shared-use lines across the country. Learn more about the Lincoln Corridor 110 project
Building Blocks for Game-Changing Passenger Rail
Regional Rail
High-speed Rail
Integrated Network
State Planning and Funding
Vision for an Integrated Rail Network
Coordinated trains and buses will make it practical and affordable to travel to every corner of the state.
Fast Regional Trains offering all-ay service will link the state’s many universities, business centers and tourist attractions to each other and to O’Hare Airport.
It’s not just about big cities. We need to connect many more smaller communities so that everyone has better access to modern, safe, convenient travel.
Statewide regional rail will build stronger communities, making the whole state better. A new Chicago – St. Louis high-speed line will make it all ten times better.
High-Speed Rail
Chicago and St. Louis are about the same distance as Madrid and Seville. High-speed trains have connected the Spanish cities with a 2 hour 20 minute trip-time since 1993. Illinois needs to catch up.
The Federal Railroad Administration included a new high-speed line in their regional framework on 2021.
The Illinois High Speed Railway Commission is developing options for building a new, high-speed line.

Critical Chicago-Area Projects
Several big projects in Illinois will have huge benefits far beyond the state borders.
Corridors in Illinois
Current progress on – and our ideas for – corridors across Illinois.
(check back for future corridor pages)
High-Speed Backbone
CrossRail Chicago
UP North Corridor

Milwaukee District North Corridor
UP Northwest Corridor
Chicago – Barrington – Harvard – (Janesville) – (Madison)

North Central Corridor
Milwaukee District West Corridor

UP West Corridor

BNSF Corridor
Rock Island Corridor
Lincoln Heritage Corridor

Metra SouthWest Service

Illinois Central Corridor

South Shore Corridor

I-74 Corridor

South of the Lake

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.
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