Midwest Corridor discussions-proposed.

[Steve4031]

I like how the administrators here create threads for different categories for the other routes. I have not seen one for the Midwest corridors out of Chicago, so I thought I would start one.

I discovered the following service alert while looking at a Sunday round trip on the Saluki. This is from Amtrak's website. Hopefully this means that the shunt issues on the crossings will be corrected.

Illini and Saluki Service Changes​

Effective May 1 - 7, 2024
Due to infrastructure work being performed, Amtrak’s Illini and Saluki services will be adjusted. Trains 391 and 392 will be changed as outlined below.

Affected Transportation​

• Train 391, which normally operates between Chicago and Carbondale, will end at the Effingham Station.
• Train 392, which normally operates between Carbondale and Chicago, will start at Effingham Station.

Vandalia Bus Line Alternate Tansportation​

• Bus 3391 will provide alternate transportation between Effingham and Carbondale.
• Bus 3392will provide alternate transportation between Carbondale and Effingham with adjusted departure times:
  • Departs from Carbondale at 3:15 pm
  • Departs from Du Quoin at 3:36 pm
  • Departs from Centralia at 4:08 pm
    

 

[MARC Rider]

Just like the NEC has New Carrolton, BWI, Metro Park, and Route 128 stations to provide park and ride service for suburbanites who might not want to take local transit or drive downtown, do similar stations exists in any of the corridor services running out of Chicago? My first quick thought is that the Milwaukee Airport station on the Hiawatha might be one. I don't think I've noticed any others in my rides into Chicago.

 

[fdaley]

Just like the NEC has New Carrolton, BWI, Metro Park, and Route 128 stations to provide park and ride service for suburbanites who might not want to take local transit or drive downtown, do similar stations exists in any of the corridor services running out of Chicago? My first quick thought is that the Milwaukee Airport station on the Hiawatha might be one. I don't think I've noticed any others in my rides into Chicago.

I think Dearborn, Mich., functions as a big park-and-ride for folks from suburban Detroit.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Just like the NEC has New Carrolton, BWI, Metro Park, and Route 128 stations to provide park and ride service for suburbanites who might not want to take local transit or drive downtown, do similar stations exists in any of the corridor services running out of Chicago? My first quick thought is that the Milwaukee Airport station on the Hiawatha might be one. I don't think I've noticed any others in my rides into Chicago.

Metra (and even the CTA) cover most of the park & ride needs of the Chicago area.

 

[Steve4031]

The commuter stations at Naperville, Glenview and Homewood are prompt equipped for long term parking.

 

[ryanwc]

The Illini / Saluki very narrowly missed 300,000 riders in the fiscal year that just ended. Tremendous improvement for that route.

The Midwest services were over 2 million this year. It’s possible they were that high pre-covid, but that would have been driven mostly by Hiawatha commuters. It’ll be interesting to see whether Illini growth continues and what happens with the Wolverines back to full strength with some speed improvements in the coming year.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

After the success of the new train from Chicago to St. Paul, to me the next logical step is Chicago - Moline - Iowa City - Des Moines - Omaha. I think track and stations exist for most of it, it avoids the unpredictability of relying on LD trains for regional service, and brings back service to where the population is in Iowa. It will take more work, because of needed upgrades, but it seems totally doable to me.

 

[PaTrainFan]

After the success of the new train from Chicago to St. Paul, to me the next logical step is Chicago - Moline - Iowa City - Des Moines - Omaha. I think track and stations exist for most of it, it avoids the unpredictability of relying on LD trains for regional service, and brings back service to where the population is in Iowa. It will take more work, because of needed upgrades, but it seems totally doable to me.

To my knowledge, Iowa has in the past expressed no interest whatsoever in supporting this service.