The Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail is a proposed Metra inter-city rail service between Chicago and Rockford, Illinois. The project is being led by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) funded with $275 million through the Rebuild Illinois capital plan. The route is expected to begin by late 2027, reinstating rail service to Rockford for the first time in over 40 years after the discontinuation of Amtrak's Black Hawk in 1981.[2]
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Service type | Inter-city rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Planning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Black Hawk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | Late 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current operator(s) | Metra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | https://chicagotorockfordrail.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | Chicago Union Station Rockford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stops | 5 (2 existing, 3 proposed) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance travelled | 86.8 miles (139.7 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average journey time | 95 minutes[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service frequency | Two daily roundtrips | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) used | Milwaukee District West, Belvidere Subdivision | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 79 mph (127 km/h) (top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track owner(s) | Metra, CPKC, Union Pacific | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The service will operate without stops along the Milwaukee District West Line between Chicago Union Station and Elgin, with a stop at one of the three existing Metra stations. The route will continue west beyond Big Timber Road on a new connection to Union Pacific's Belvidere Subdivision. The service will have two intermediate stops in Huntley and Belvidere before terminating in downtown Rockford.[3]
The route has yet to receive an official name, with Metra interested in branding the service to distinguish it from its existing commuter rail network.[4]
Stations and fares
editThe route will service five stations at two existing and three new facilities. Existing stations will be located at Chicago Union Station, the line's east terminal, and at an existing station in Elgin, either National Street, downtown Elgin, or Big Timber Road. Station locations and designs in Huntley, Belvidere, and Rockford need to be determined, with preliminary plans expected by November 1, 2023.[5] The station at Chicago Street in downtown Elgin is presented as the preferred choice, offering a connection to Pace's Elgin Transportation Center.[6]
Fares are yet to be determined, and are expected to be structured differently than existing commuter rail fares. IDOT and Metra are working together to determine appropriate pricing. One reason Metra was selected as an operator over Amtrak was existing fare integration with other Chicago area transit authorities.[7]
| County | Location | Station | Connections | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago | Rockford | Rockford | Proposed station; to open by 2027 | Station to be located downtown, west of Main Street on or near the site of the previous Chicago & North Western station[7][8] |
| Boone | Belvidere | Belvidere | Proposed station; to open by 2027 | Station to be located downtown, east of State Street adjacent to the Boone County Museum of History[9] |
| McHenry | Huntley | Huntley | Proposed station; to open by 2027 | Station location to be determined; previously studied as part of an Metra extension.[10][11] |
| Kane | Elgin | Elgin |  Metra: ■ Milwaukee District West Pace Bus
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Existing station to be determined; also considering National Street and Big Timber Road |
| Cook | Chicago | Union Station |  Amtrak (long-distance): California Zephyr, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Empire Builder, Floridian, Lake Shore Limited, Southwest Chief, Texas Eagle Amtrak (intercity): Blue Water, Borealis, Hiawatha, Illini and Saluki, Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg, Lincoln Service, Pere Marquette, Wolverine Metra: ■ BNSF, ■ Heritage Corridor, ■ Milwaukee District North, ■ Milwaukee District West, ■ North Central Service Chicago "L": Blue (at Clinton), Brown Orange Pink Purple (at Quincy) CTA Bus: 1, 7, J14, 19, 28, 56, 60, 120, 121, 124, 125, 126, 128, 130, 151, 156, 157, 192 Pace Bus: 755 Plainfield–IMD–West Loop Express Amtrak Thruway: Chicago–Madison and Chicago–Rockford (Van Galder), Chicago–Louisville (Greyhound)
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See also
edit- Quad Cities, an under construction Amtrak service funded through Rebuild Illinois
- Amtrak Black Hawk, the last intercity train to serve Rockford (1974–1981)
References
edit- ^ "Metra to provide service between Rockford, Chicago for first time in over 40 years". CBS News. July 6, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ Kolkey, Jeff. "Now boarding: Everything you need to know about Rockford's new Metra line to Chicago". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Studenkov, Igor (July 6, 2023). "I want you to want commuter rail: Pritzker announces $275M award to Metra to restore Rockford-Chicago train service". Streetsblog Chicago. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Freishtat, Sarah (July 19, 2023). "IL: Metra was chosen to operate service to Rockford. That could help the commuter rail as it struggles to bring back riders". Chicago Tribune. Mass Transit. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Studenkov, Igor (July 21, 2023). "Metra Board of Directors officially signs off on planning Rockford service via Memorandum of Understanding with IDOT". Streetsblog Chicago. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ "Issue II February 2024" (PDF). Illinois Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Haas, Kevin (July 6, 2023). "Rail Q & A: Answers to 12 key questions about passenger rail between Rockford and Chicago". Rock River Current. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Johnston, Bob (July 9, 2023). "Illinois chooses Metra to operate Chicago-Rockford service". Trains. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Haas, Kevin (July 10, 2023). "'It's going to be really dynamic': Belvidere primed for new downtown train station after Metra pick". Rock River Current. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Borcia, Sam (July 7, 2023). "Metra station to be built in Huntley as governor announces passenger train service from Rockford to Chicago". Lake and McHenry County Scanner. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ O'Brien, Claire (September 16, 2024). "Huntley chosen for stop on new Chicago-to-Rockford train line. But where will the station go?". Daily Herald. Retrieved September 28, 2024.