Issue date: 3/16/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Derrick Hawkins/Alestle A high-speed rail will replace the Amtrak rail that travels from Alton to the Chicago Loop's Union Station. It will cut the train trip down to not much more than three hours compared to the current five and a half hours.

A high-speed rail will replace the current Amtrak rail from St. Louis to Chicago, according to Rick Harnish, executive director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association.

Harnish said the route will run on the same track that Amtrak currently uses. The train's speed will increase from 79 mph to 110 mph.

"The state is upgrading the Amtrak service and calling it high-speed rail," Harnish said. "And they've just got a billion dollars in order to modernize Amtrak service from the federal government."

Illinois Department of Transportation Communication Manager Paris Ervin said Amtrak received $1.2 billion for the upgrade.

According to Harnish the closest train station to SIUE is in Alton and that station will remain the closest. He said the state has talked about the rail for "a very long time," and that "it's really critical that we get good, high quality train service linking the state."

Amtrak Media Relations Manager Marc Magliari said additions will be made to the current track.

"There have been two sets of tracks until around 1980 when a previous owner of the rail road decided to remove the second set of tracks," Magliari said. "The plan is to restore the second set of tracks from Alton to Joliet, roughly."

According to Magliari, SIUE students can benefit from the rail's location.

"For SIUE, the fact that we are much closer to the campus than I-55 is to Chicago, we'll be well situated to transport more students to and from Edwardsville," Magliari said.

Freshman pre-pharmacy major Cassandra Smith of Lynwood, which is about 45 minutes from Chicago, said she utilizes the train for weekend trips home, but drives for extended breaks.

"I don't want to drive four hours just to be there for a couple days. I could get homework done, and it's a long drive," Smith said.

Smith said she stops at Joliet after about 3 hours and 45 minutes, but having that trip shortened would make her happy. Though the increased speed is important, the train's safety and the cost cause concern.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools