Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The overall purpose of this project is to enhance the passenger transportation network within the Chicago to St. Louis corridor, resulting in a more balanced use of the modal components. The current Chicago to St. Louis corridor operates on only one set of track, however, future visions for this corridor include the full build out of an additional second track. The full build out of an additional second track will be determined in the Tier 1 Study by combining technical analysis and stakeholder input. This project intends to establish a more balanced modal use of the transportation network by improving rail service.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) are acting as joint lead agencies on this project.

The Federal Railroad Administration defines high-speed trains as operating at speeds over 90 miles per hour. The Chicago to St. Louis high-speed trains are proposed to operate at a maximum speed of 110 miles per hour where safe and practical.

On April 16, 2009, President Obama announced a new vision for developing high-speed passenger rail in America. The vision called for a collaborative effort among the Federal Government, States, railroads, and other key stakeholders to help transform America's transportation system through the creation of a national network of high-speed rail corridors. To achieve this vision, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) launched the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program in June 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). On January 28, 2010, Illinois was selected for a $1.2 billion federal award to bring high-speed passenger rail service to Illinois by 2014. In addition, the Illinois Capital bill has appropriation of $400 million for high-speed rail. Illinois was selected for federal funds through the Federal Railroad Administration High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Illinois was selected to receive $1.1 billion for corridor improvements between Dwight and the St. Louis area. In December 2010 an additional $42.3 million was received for construction upgrades between Dwight and St. Louis. In Jan 2012, 186.3 million was received for corridor improvements between Joliet and Dwight. The overall package of improvements included matching funds from IDOT, local municipalities and the Union Pacific Railroad.

• Illinois (along with other Midwest states) had a vision for high-speed rail beginning in the 1990’s and in 2003 IDOT developed an environmental clearance document referred to as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The result of the EIS was a federally approved project eligible for federal funding and was documented in a Record of Decision (ROD).

• The Chicago to St. Louis Corridor ROD was approved in 2004 and allowed IDOT to be well positioned for federal funds. The ROD approved upgrades to the existing Chicago to St. Louis corridor, but only allowed improvements to the existing line from Dwight to the St. Louis area.
• Continuing with IDOT’s commitment to build a world-class high-speed rail corridor, the Department has commenced a second EIS to study a full build-out (adding a second track and other improvements) of the corridor and to decide on a route between Chicago to Joliet, Alton to East St. Louis and in the Springfield corridor.
• The EIS is expected to be completed in 2012 with a 14 mile test segment between Dwight and Pontiac operating at speeds up to 110 miles per hour in fall of 2012.

The 2010 construction began on September 1, 2010. The work crews began near Godfrey and proceeded north. Work was completed in January 2011. The 2010 construction included approximately 90 miles of new track from approximately Godfrey to Lincoln, excluding the Springfield area.

On April 1, 2011, the second round of construction began to upgrade approximately 96 miles of existing track from Elkhart to Dwight. An additional 18 miles were also constructed between St. Louis and Lenox. Construction was completed Fall 2011.

• Significant milestone in preparing the Chicago to St. Louis rail corridor for 110 miles per hour service.
• Improved track construction contributed to enhanced on-time performance of existing passenger service.
• Provided better connectivity between Chicago and St. Louis.
• Safety improvements with the installation of 4 quad gates and new signals

• Installation of new premium rail, concrete ties, and stone ballast that supported the new rail and ties.
• Railroad turnouts were replaced with larger switches that allow trains to run through them at a higher speed, and certain curves were re-aligned to support future higher speeds.
• Rail/highway crossings were refurbished with new concrete road surfaces and improved adjacent roadway approaches.

The 2012 construction work is scheduled to begin in late March or early April depending on weather conditions. Improvements in preparation for higher speed travel will be concentrated between Wann and Godfrey and from Pontiac to Joliet. Work will include building new sidings and second track, upgrades to bridges and culverts, drainage improvements, installation and upgrades to signal and wayside equipment and continued crossing and approach improvements.

During construction, most rail/highway crossings will be temporarily closed to enable the work to be performed. Any permanent closures of a grade crossing will involve a negotiated process with the landlord, county, and/or local municipality. For a current list of closed grade crossings, visit the project website at http://www.idothsr.org/2010_const/closures.aspx

Yes. Amtrak will announce temporary service changes and substitute express bus services that will replace train service during construction and provide reports via Amtrak’s website (www.amtrak.com). Passenger Service Notices will be posted at stations and will be displayed as part of the booking process on www.amtrak.com.

IDOT is taking an incremental approach to implementing high-speed rail in the state, similar to how many European countries have implemented high-speed rail service. The 110 miles per hour service on the corridor has the necessary environmental documents, and construction began on September 1, 2010. The public will get first glimpse of higher speed passenger service between Dwight and Pontiac as early as 2012. IDOT embraces the idea that a network of different but connecting rail services operating at up to both 110 miles per hour and 220 miles per hour may best serve the state’s travel and economic development needs. IDOT recently submitted a grant application to the Federal Railroad Administration for an Alternative Analysis and environmental studies for 220 miles per hour service. However, the application was not selected for funding. Trains operating at 220 miles per hour will be subject to a higher level of safety standards which require grade separations for any rail/highway crossings, dedicated right-of-way and fencing. The development of such a system will take a considerable length of time.

IDOT has a number of contact points for information on this project. Visit www.connectthemidwest.com for Midwest High-Speed Rail information and visit www.idothsr.org or www.facebook.com/illinoishighspeedrail for more project specific information and to comment on the Illinois High-Speed Rail project. In addition to the websites, we encourage stakeholders to sign up for the mailing list to receive newsletters and invitations to meetings, as well as to e-subscribe to website updates.

You can direct questions and comments to us via www.idothsr.org. Written correspondence can be sent directly to Illinois Department of Transportation, Miriam Gutierrez, Rail Program Planning Chief, Division of Public & Intermodal Transportation, James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 6-600, Chicago, IL 60601-3229 or by fax: (312)793-1251. A hotline has also been established for receipt of comments, 1-855-IDOT-HSR (436-8477)

The Illinois Commerce Commission has developed an Illinois Rail Crossing Safety Program in conjunction with Operation Lifesaver. Contact the ICC to schedule a crossing safety program for your community. Contact Chip Pew at (847) 433-3943, cpew@icc.illinois.gov

As part of the project to accommodate 110 miles per hour trains, there are several safety enhancements to the corridor under way. A major portion of the investment in the Chicago-St. Louis corridor is to improve safety systems. The track will be upgraded to premium rail and other components, which supports safer operations. All of the rail/highway grade crossings will undergo an extensive field review (referred to as a field diagnostic) to determine necessary improvements and warning devices at the crossings will be upgraded. The majority of the public crossings will ultimately be equipped with four gates at each crossing (4-quad gates) to better restrict vehicles from entering the path of a train. Finally, a Positive Train Control (PTC) system will be implemented on the corridor which both helps to keeps trains separated from each other as well as identifying roadway vehicles on the tracks at crossings, enabling actions to be taken to avoid an incident.

Yes – as part of the Federal Railroad Administration funding selection for the ROD package of improvements, six new sets of equipment (trainsets) capable of operating at up to 110 miles per hours will be purchased for use on the Chicago to St. Louis corridor. Each trainset is expected to consist of five cars including new coach and business class seating, as well as premium amenities such as food service and wifi. Two new high horsepower diesel locomotives will likely be used on each trainset. Specifications for the new equipment are being developed by a national consortium of State DOTs, equipment suppliers, and other industry experts. They are drawing on international best practices in the development of these specifications. A higher level of comfort and safety is being specified in the new equipment. Any equipment purchased for the new high-speed service will undergo extensive performance testing and simulated operations on the corridor prior to the start of passenger service in 2014.

There are several factors contributing to the opportunity to operate high-speed passenger rail service on a 14 mile test segment of the route between Dwight and Pontiac:

• Enhanced Signal System - The Union Pacific Railroad has already made improvements to the enhanced signal system between Dwight and Pontiac, allowing for a better opportunity to demonstrate higher speed operations by 2012.
• Enhanced Grade Crossing Warning System - Nearly half of the at-grade crossings between Dwight and Pontiac are already equipped with four quadrant gates. The FRA requires that all at-grade crossing be upgraded to four quadrant gates prior to high-speed rail operation. Having many in place along this segment will simplify and expedite the upgrade efforts needed to run higher speed service between Dwight and Pontiac.
• Track Upgrades - The second season of High-Speed Rail construction began in April 2011 and was concluded in August 2011. This round of construction, conducted in partnership with the Union Pacific Railroad, upgraded existing track along the route to prepare it for future higher speed passenger train operations. Construction started in Elkhart and proceeded north to Dwight.