La Grange Amtrak -- Where does it go? (Chicago, Naperville: university, live)

[Lookout Kid]

Looking at Amtrak's web site it looks like the Amtrak train that passes through La Grange has a terminus in Quincy, IL. Is this really correct? If so, what in the world is the logic of this?!? Is there really a demand for passenger rail service connecting Quincy, IL to Chicago? It seems like the train should continue further into Iowa and to destinations out west, but the Amtrak route map just stops at Quincy. Unreal. And people wonder why Amtrak has low ridership.

Amtrak - Routes - Midwest

[chet everett]

These are political decisions. Once upon a time somebody connected to Politician that lived in LaGrange probably had a summer place out there and didn't want to drive...

The same tracks (BNSF) see pretty much the whole of Amtrak's western access from Union Station, but they have a hard enough time staffing that...

[Johnny Northside]

It is probably funded in part by a state of Illinois grant (like the one that funds short-haul service between Chicago and St. Louis over the same route that the long-haul Texas Eagle runs).

The route was probably plotted to serve, among others, students at Western Illinois University, who might otherwise have no way of getting to/from Macomb. As a second-tier public university, it is among the best options for CPS students and others who wouldn't likely have access to a car.

The Quincy service is just a two-stop spur (from Galesburg) off the mainline that goes to Kansas City.

[Lookout Kid]

It seems like all of the Amtrak trains that go through La Grange skip the La Grange Road stop, but then stop in Naperville. The only Amtrak train I can find that actually stops in La Grange makes a bunch of little stops en route to Quincy. It just seems weird to me.

When I lived in Wisconsin it always ticked me off that the Amtrak line connecting Milwaukee and the Twin Cities didn't stop in Madison. Nope, it stopped in Portage instead. That's right, the tiny prison town of Portage, WI (where Jeffery Dahmer met his end), while the state capital got nothing. Amtrak could be a great thing, but it needs to be completely revamped. Many of the routes defy logic. And 53 hours to from Chicago to San Francisco is simply ridiculous.

[chet everett]

Take away the politicians ability to give their pet towns perks and the politicians take away the subsidy. I think this is a page out a certain IL Governor's playbook...

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

And 53 hours to from Chicago to San Francisco is simply ridiculous.

That is long. I once did Chicago-New Mexico..think it was 24 hours. In any case, its a really cool way to see the country and the ride is often as interesting as the destination, as well as the people you interact with. Just make sure you have a sleeper because its no fun trying to snooze in coach seats...

[Johnny Northside]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

It seems like all of the Amtrak trains that go through La Grange skip the La Grange Road stop, but then stop in Naperville. The only Amtrak train I can find that actually stops in La Grange makes a bunch of little stops en route to Quincy. It just seems weird to me.

That would be precisely to serve WIU students from the suburbs -- so they don't have to go in to Union Station or out to Naperville on Metra to make the connection.

One thing Illinois does do better than Wisconsin is fund Amtrak service for travelers who need it. The Portage/Madison is an issue based in Wisconsin's unwillingness to chip in to the Hiawatha service to the Twin Cities. The pie in the sky that Madison is awaiting now is high-speed rail from Milwaukee to Madison:

Milwaukee to Madison High Speed Rail (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d1/hsrail/index.htm - broken link)

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Johnny Northside

That would be precisely to serve WIU students from the suburbs -- so they don't have to go in to Union Station or out to Naperville on Metra to make the connection.

One thing Illinois does do better than Wisconsin is fund Amtrak service for travelers who need it. The Portage/Madison is an issue based in Wisconsin's unwillingness to chip in to the Hiawatha service to the Twin Cities. The pie in the sky that Madison is awaiting now is high-speed rail from Milwaukee to Madison:

Milwaukee to Madison High Speed Rail (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d1/hsrail/index.htm - broken link)

I could have used that when I lived there. The more the "larger" cities of the Midwest can do to connect their transportation networks, economies, etc.--the better off the entire region will be. We need to start working together more effectively.