In a perfect world IMHO opinion there would be two trains a day between Chicago and Washington, D.C. And one to NYC and one to Boston. one Chicago to Washington service could leave in the morning and travel via the Michigan Line and then on to Cleveland, Pittsburg, and Washington, D.C arriving early in the morning. The second Chicago Washington train travel the traditional route at the traditional time. The return service from Washington would have a morning departure with day time stops through Cleveland before continuing to Chicago on the traditional route arriving early in the morning to ensure west coast connections. The second train departs Washington D.C.at the traditional time but provide a morning trip through Michigan before arriving Chicago in mid-afternoon.
The NYC/Bos service would operate as follows. One Chicago NYC train would depart in the morning and operate via Pittsburg and Harrisburg to NYC arriving early the next morning. The Boston train would depart mid afternoon, travel through Michigan, and continue on to Boston arriving Boston about noon the next day. The second CHI-NCY train departs at the current time and follows the current route and schedule to NYC. The return trips would be as follows.
An 8 a.m. departure from NYC to Pittsburg and then Cleveland and on east to Chicago. The Boston train departs 9 a.m. and then continues to Toledo, with a run through Michigan in the morning before arriving Chicago. The second NYC train departs in the current slot as the LSL and that is that.
In order for this to be feasible the Federal government would have to provide funding for separate110 mph trackage between Union Station and Porter, Indiana to avoid freight interference that is notorious for this section. A third track could be built east from Porter most of the way to Albany. The NYC right of way provides space for a 3 and 4 tracks for most of this distance. This would allow the passenger trains to move in move in both directions with little delay.
