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Chicago’s rail connections are getting a major addition—though passengers will have to wait a few more years before climbing aboard.
Illinois has finally secured the funding needed to restore Amtrak service between Chicago and the Quad Cities, per The Chicago Tribune, clearing the last major financial hurdle for a route that has been discussed, delayed and revived repeatedly over nearly two decades. Passenger trains last served the Quad Cities—which consist of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa as well as Moline, Rock Island and East Moline in Illinois—back in 1979, meaning the eventual return will end an absence of almost half a century.
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The planned service will operate two daily round trips between Chicago and Moline, giving travelers a car-free route to the metro area straddling the Illinois-Iowa border. Once running, the train could make weekend visits to the John Deere Pavilion, Augustana College and the Quad Cities River Bandits’ ballpark considerably easier—and save Chicagoans from spending hours staring at Interstate 88.
The breakthrough came after the Federal Railroad Administration extended Illinois’ access to federal funds originally committed under President Barack Obama in 2010. A state transit package has also allocated up to $476.7 million for the Quad Cities route and a separate proposed rail connection between Peoria and Chicago.
“Illinois relies on rail to push our economy forward and to ensure statewide connectivity, but we’ve been missing a critical route between Chicago and the Quad Cities,” U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said.
Before service can begin, Illinois officials must reach final agreements with the freight railroads that control the tracks and complete extensive infrastructure work. That includes replacing a deteriorating bridge over the Rock River, upgrading a 55-mile stretch between Wyanet and Moline and installing federally required positive train control technology. Some portions of the existing track are more than a century old.
Moline is already prepared to welcome travelers: The Quad Cities has built an intermodal station for buses and trains, and Illinois owns the equipment that will eventually operate along the route.
The initial two-round-trip schedule has drawn criticism from rail advocates who say more frequent departures will be necessary to attract substantial ridership. State transportation officials have said they could consider additional trains if demand warrants.
The Moline terminus may not remain the end of the line forever, either. Restoring the route could lay the groundwork for future service to Iowa City, Des Moines and Omaha, provided Iowa and Nebraska decide to get aboard.