FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2012
ATK-12-026
Amtrak Contact: Marc Magliari
312 544.5390
Illinois DOT Contacts: Guy Tridgell
312 814.4693
Josh Kauffman
217 558.0517
ILLINOIS HIGH-SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR WORK RESUMES
Amtrak Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle trains affected;
First phase of 2012 work starts south of Springfield
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation (Illinois DOT) and Union Pacific
Railroad will again be upgrading Illinois’ signature high-speed route, Chicago-St. Louis, for
future high-speed Amtrak trains, from April 16 through May 25. The improvements for 110 mph
service include the installation of new premium rail with concrete ties and stone ballast; upgrades
to bridges, culverts and drainage; signal and wayside equipment installations and upgrades; and
roadway-rail grade crossing improvements.
Most days, this work will lead to the substitution of chartered motorcoaches for Amtrak
Lincoln Service (Trains 300-307) passengers at St. Louis, Alton and Carlinville. The Amtrak
Texas Eagle (Trains 21/321/421 & 22/322/422) will detour between Chicago and St. Louis for
the same period, with alternate transportation in both directions between Joliet and St. Louis.
The attached Passenger Service Notice covers the details of the first phase of the 2012 work.
The temporary changes will allow Union Pacific’s Track Renewal Train crews to
improve infrastructure to enable Amtrak service to travel at speeds up to 110 mph (177 kph), an
increase from the current maximum of 79 mph (127 kph). Illinois DOT and Amtrak are planning
to preview higher speed trains in September 2012 from Dwight to Pontiac.
This is the last scheduled year of large-scale construction leading to alternate
transportation on the corridor. When this project began with a ground-breaking north of Alton in
2010, it was among the first high-speed rail projects in the country to start construction.
Passenger Service Notices about this disruption are posted at stations and will be
displayed as part of the booking process on Amtrak.com. Temporary road crossing closures due
- more -
-2-
ATK-12-026
to construction will be updated on a nightly basis on the Official Illinois High-Speed Rail
Chicago to St. Louis Project Website, www.idothsr.org.
Further notices will be issued through the 2012 construction season.
A stringent Quality Control/Quality Assurance program has been set up for the Illinois
High-speed rail project for materials and equipment. During the 2010-11 construction seasons,
certain concrete railroad ties installed in the corridor were failing a laboratory test predictive of
durability. No ties have failed in service but as a precautionary measure all 115,000 of the
implicated ties are scheduled for removal from service by the end of 2012 at Union Pacific’s
expense.
About Amtrak®
Celebrating 40 years of dedicated service as America’s Railroadsm, Amtrak is the nation’s intercity passenger rail
provider and its only high-speed rail operator. A record 28.7 million passengers traveled on Amtrak in FY 2010 on
more than 300 daily trains – at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph) – that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia
and three Canadian Provinces. Amtrak operates trains in partnership with 15 states and four commuter rail
agencies. Amtrak also is a strong financial performer achieving an 85 percent cost-recovery ratio in FY 2010.
Enjoy the journeysm at Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information. Join us on
facebook.com/Amtrak and follow us at twitter.com/Amtrak.
About Illinois DOT
The Illinois Department of Transportation provides safe, cost-effective transportation for Illinois in ways that
enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity, and demonstrate respect for our environment. Illinois DOT
provides leadership throughout Illinois for the improvement and coordination of the state’s multi-faceted
transportation system and serves as an advocate and trusted adviser to local governments and other community
agencies involved in providing transportation access and services for all of Illinois. For more information, visit
http://www.dot.il.gov/.
For information regarding the Illinois High Speed Rail, visit www.idothsr.org or call 855-IDOT-HSR (855-4368477). Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/IllinoisHighSpeedRail.
# (attachment) #
Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle
Illinois High Speed Rail Work Resumes
April 16 - 25, May 1 - 10 and May 16 - 25
Starting April 16, The Illinois Department of Transportation (Illinois DOT) and Union Pacific
Railroad will again be upgrading Illinois’ signature high-speed route, Chicago-St. Louis, for
future high-speed trains. This phase of the project will be performed during the three
periods shown above and will affect the Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle. Details on the
next phase will be provided as soon as they become available.
The temporary service changes described below will allow Union Pacific crews to improve infrastructure to enable the Lincoln
Service trains to travel at speeds up to 110 mph (177 kph), an increase from the current maximum of 79 mph (127 kph). Illinois
DOT and Amtrak are planning to preview higher speed trains in September 2012 from Dwight to Pontiac.
Lincoln Service
On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, Lincoln Service trains will operate between Chicago and Springfield only. Alternate
transportation will be provided between Springfield and St. Louis, as described below. Note: Due to limited availability, advance
reservations are required.
Southbound Trains 301, 303, 305 and 307
 On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, all passengers destined for, or making connections in, St. Louis will be
provided express motorcoach service upon the train’s arrival in Springfield.
 Passengers destined for Carlinville or Alton will be provided separate motorcoach service upon the train’s arrival in
Springfield.
 Note: Carlinville and Alton passengers will not be able to make connections to Train 313 in St. Louis. Alton passengers
can make reservations aboard Train 301 to make connections with Train 313, destined to Kansas City and intermediate
stations.
Northbound Trains 300, 302, 304 and 306
 On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, all passengers boarding at St. Louis who are destined for Springfield and
points north will be provided express motorcoach service directly to Springfield, where they can board the train.
Motorcoach service will depart 20 minutes earlier than the train’s normal departure time.
 All passengers boarding at Alton and Carlinville will be provided alternate transportation to Springfield, where they can
board the train. Alternate transportation will depart Alton one hour and 15 minutes earlier than the times shown in
Amtrak printed timetables and 50 minutes earlier from Carlinville.
 All passengers scheduled to board the train at St. Louis who are traveling to Alton or Carlinville will be provided alternate
transportation, which will operate according to the scheduled of Train 304 and 322.
April 16, May 1 and May 16 Exceptions: Train 300 will operate according to the normal schedule on April 16, May 1 and May 16.
April 25, May 10 and May 25 Exceptions: Passengers scheduled to board Trains 300 and 302 will be provided motorcoach
service from St. Louis to Springfield on April 25, May 10 and May 25.
Texas Eagle Trains 21/321/421 and 22/322/422
On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, the Texas Eagle will operate non-stop between Chicago and St. Louis and will not
serve any intermediate stations. Alternate transportation will be provided, as described below:
Westbound Texas Eagle Trains 21/321/421
 Motorcoaches will serve all Illinois stations with the exception of Chicago. Motorcoach service will start at Joliet with a
departure time of 1:30 p.m. and will make all stops on a modified schedule.
 Train 21/321/421 will operate on a later schedule from St. Louis to Little Rock.
Eastbound Texas Eagle Train 22/322/422
 Passengers will be provided alternate transportation between St. Louis and Joliet using a modified schedule.
 Train 22/322/422 will operate earlier from Little Rock to St. Louis.
Thank you for traveling with Amtrak. We appreciate your patronage and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience.
Reservations and train status information is available on Amtrak.com, our free iPhone app and at 1-800-USA-RAIL
(1-800-872-7245).
PSN 0312-69 Remove May 26, 2012
Amtrak is a registered service mark of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.