Durbin, Quinn ask Amtrak to increase trains in Illinois

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn today asked the President and CEO of Amtrak, Joe Boardman, to study the possibility of increasing the frequency of trains along the Chicago – Champaign – Carbondale route.

A formal Amtrak study is a critical step, they said, in the process of a state adding additional trains or new routes to its passenger rail network.

“Amtrak ridership continues to grow. Between 2006 and 2013, ridership in Illinois grew almost 85 percent. In that same period, Chicago to Carbondale ridership grew even faster — 117 percent – to just under 400,000 passengers,” Durbin and Quinn wrote. “To facilitate continued growth in passenger rail, we need to increase the number of opportunities available to riders. This study is the first step to increase the frequency of trains along the Chicago to Carbondale route.”

Text of today’s letter is below:

August 6, 2014

Joseph H. Boardman Anthony R. Coscia

President and CEO Chairman

Amtrak Amtrak Board of Directors

60 Massachusetts Avenue, NE 60 Massachusetts Avenue, NE

Washington, DC 20002 Washington, DC 20002

Dear President Boardman and Chairman Coscia:

We are writing to request an Amtrak feasibility study on increasing the frequency of trains between Chicago and Carbondale. Expanding service along this corridor will continue the great progress Illinois has made to improve passenger rail service throughout the State.

Amtrak ridership continues to grow. Between 2006 and 2013, ridership in Illinois grew almost 85 percent. In that same period, Chicago to Carbondale ridership grew even faster—117%–to just under 400,000 passengers. Nationwide, Amtrak carried over 30 million passengers in FY2013, and ridership has grown more than 50 percent since 2000.

The federal government and State of Illinois have made significant investments into our passenger rail network. The federal government has invested almost $2 billion, and the State $450 million, in upgrades to tracks, signals, bridges, locomotives and rail cars that will greatly improve passenger rail service in Illinois. For example, federal and state investments have jumpstarted 110mph rail service between Chicago and St. Louis and helped the state purchase the next generation of train cars and locomotives that will improve the passenger experience for riders throughout the Midwest.

To facilitate continued growth in passenger rail, we need to increase the number of opportunities available to riders. This study is the first step to increase the frequency of trains along the Chicago to Carbondale route. We hope Amtrak will begin and complete a formal feasibility study to jumpstart this process as soon as possible.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Durbin, Pat Quinn