Lincoln Service: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|Amtrak service between Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=FebruaryNovember 20182023}}

{{italicItalic title}}

| caption = A ''Lincoln Service'' train passing through [[35th/Archer station]] in McKinley Park, Chicago, July 2023.

| map = {{Amtrak Lincoln Service}}switcher

{{As of|2023|June}}, the average trip time between Chicago and St. Louis was 4 hours 59 minutes. Future infrastructure upgrades are expected to reduce the time to under 4 hours.

During [[fiscal year]] 2016 (ending September '16)2023, the ''Lincoln Service'' trains carried 548523,955304 passengers, aan decreaseincrease of 49.89% from FY2015FY2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite Theweb |title=Amtrak FY23 Ridership |url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Amtrak-Fiscal-Year-2023-Ridership.pdf}}</ref> This is a 16.7% decrease from pre-COVID-19 pandemic ridership, with 627,599 passengers in FY2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amtrak FY19 Ridership |url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FY19-Year-End-Ridership.pdf |access-date=January 14, 2024}}</ref> In FY2015, the service had a total revenue of [[US dollar|$]]14,266,964, a decrease of 1.3% from FY2015.<ref name="FY16">{{cite web|date=April 7, 2017|title=Amtrak FY16 Ridership and Revenue Fact Sheet|url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Amtrak-FY16-Ridership-and-Revenue-Fact-Sheet-4_17_17-mm-edits.pdf|access-date=December 8, 2021|publisher=[[Amtrak]]}}</ref>

On October 30, 2006, Amtrak rebranded the ''State House'' as the ''Lincoln Service'' upon the addition of two new round trips, made possible by upgrades to the line. This resulted in a total of five daily round trips on the Chicago-St. Louis corridor, including the ''[[Texas Eagle]]'' and ''[[Ann Rutledge (train)|Ann Rutledge]]'', which terminated beyond St. Louis.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/News_Release_Popup&;c=am2Copy&cid=1093554067341|title=Governor Blagojevich Announces Amtrak Lincoln Service to Start Running October 30th|publisher=Amtrak|date=October 14, 2006|access-date=December 8, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311135742/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FNews_Release_Popup&%3Bc=am2Copy&cid=1093554067341}}</ref> Beginning in April 2007, the ''Ann Rutledge'' operated only between Kansas City and St. Louis, where it connected once daily to the Lincoln Service.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} The ''Ann Rutledge'' was folded into the ''[[Missouri River Runner]]'' in 2009, though one ''Lincoln Service'' round trip continued to connect with the ''Missouri River Runner.'' On May 23, 2022, Amtrak began [[through service|through-routing]] one round trip of the ''Missouri River Runner'' and ''Lincoln Service'', creating a second one-seat service between Kansas City and Chicago (additional to the ''[[Southwest Chief]]'', which takes a more direct route.)<ref name="rp-timetable">{{cite web |title=AMTRAK'S LINCOLN SERVICE & MISSOURI RIVER RUNNER |url=https://www.railpassengers.org/site/assets/files/20928/illinois-missouri-services.pdf |website=www.railpassengers.org/ |access-date=August 31 August, 2023| date=9 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=apparently Missouri River Runner trains are now through running into Illinois. A one seat ride from Hermann to Springfield9, IL |url=https://twitter.com/aprice1828/status/1534332062928359425 |website=Twitter |access-date=15 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Looks like the Missouri River Runner finally got its Venture coaches 🎉🥳 |url=https://twitter.com/Simply_Railway/status/1533225836547039233 |website=Twitter |access-date=15 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cella |first1=Kim |title=MO Legislature Moves Amtrak Service Back to Twice Daily |url=https://cmt-stl.org/mo-legislature-moves-amtrak-service-back-to-twice-daily/ |website=Citizens For Modern Transit |access-date=15 March 15, 2023 |date=23 May 23, 2022}}</ref>

In July 2010, the state of Illinois and the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] reached an agreement under which track speeds between [[Dwight, Illinois|Dwight]] and [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]], Illinois were to be raised to as high as {{convert|110|mph|km/h|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 21, 2010|title=Union Pacific, Illinois strike agreement on fast trains|url=http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=7120&r=rss|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914170050/http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=7120&r=rss|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2021|publisher=Trains Magazine}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This speed will cut the travel time between Chicago and St. Louis by 90 minutes, bringing the trip to under four hours.<ref name=110mph/> The first track upgrade construction was planned to be between Alton and [[Lincoln, Illinois]] and was projected to cost $98 million. The construction on this stretch began on September 17, 2010, in Alton and was completed in 2011. Most of the funding came from $1.1 billion in stimulus money for Illinois high-speed rail from the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]. The remainder of this grant, as well as $400 million in funding from the state of Illinois, was used to complete a high-speed rail corridor for the remaining portions of the St. Louis–Chicago track. Senator [[Dick Durbin]] suggested the Dwight–Alton upgrades would create some 900 jobs, while the overall project could generate 24,000.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

On March 22, 2011, an announcement was made in Chicago that an additional $685 million would be used to upgrade trackage and grade crossings between Dwight and Lincoln. Construction on the improvement project began on April 5, 2011.<ref name="Bloomington Pantagraph">{{cite web|url=http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_0f8ed1c6-54d9-11e0-9df0-001cc4c002e0.html |title=Second phase of high-speed rail expected to begin April 5 |access-date=March 24, 2011 |date=March 22, 2011 |publisher=Bloomington Pantagraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101335/http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_0f8ed1c6-54d9-11e0-9df0-001cc4c002e0.html |archive-date=December 24, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Upgrades included rebuilding the [[passing siding]]s so that the [[track spacing]] between the main track is increased from {{cvt|14|ft}} to {{cvt|20|ft}}.<ref name="Trains201702">{{cite magazine |issn=0041-0934 |magazine=[[Trains magazine]] |title=Choppy path to more speed: Work on Chicago-St. Louis 'Lincoln Service' route shows successes, challenges |id={{Gale|A474547827}} |first=Bob |last=Johnston |publication-date=February 2017 |volume=77 |number=2 |page=24}}</ref>

Starting on July 7, 2021, ''Lincoln Service'' and ''Texas Eagle'' trains were allowed a top speed of {{convert|90|mph}} after Federal Railroad Administration dual certification of the [[Incremental Train Control System]] and Interoperable Electronic Train Management System between south of [[Joliet Union Station]] and Alton, Illinois.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Maximum speeds increase to 90 mph on Amtrak's Chicago-St. Louis corridor|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/maximum-speeds-increase-to-90-mph-on-amtraks-chicago-st-louis-corridor/|access-date=2021-07-July 12, 2021|website=Trains|date=July 9, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> On December 13, 2021, scheduled travel times were reduced by approximately 15 minutes between St. Louis and Chicago as a result of the increased speeds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle Schedule Changes Due to Speed Increase |url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/lincoln-service-texas-eagle-schedule-change.html |publisher=Amtrak |date=December 13, 2021}}</ref> Amtrak began testing the line for {{Cvt|110|mph|4=0}} revenue service in 2022. Effective May 3, 2023, trains are authorized to travel up to {{Cvt|110|mph|4=0}} on the line, while new schedules are written for the line.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magliari |first=Marc |date=May 3, 2023-05-03 |title=110 mph Schedules Coming for Amtrak Chicago-St. Louis Corridor |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2023/05/110-mph-schedules-coming-for-amtrak-chicago-st-louis-corridor/ |access-date=May 3, 2023-05-03 |website=Amtrak Media |language=en-US}}</ref> The new schedules debuted on June 26, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/illinois-increased-speeds-shorten-schedules-chicago-st-louis.html|title=Illinois Increased Speeds Shorten Schedules Chicago to St. Louis|date=June 26, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|publisher=Amtrak|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20230626/a-powerhouse-route-amtrak-unleashes-110-mph-trains-on-chicago-to-st-louis-route|title='A powerhouse route': Amtrak unleashes 110 mph trains on Chicago-to-St. Louis route|first=Marni|last=Pyke|work=[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois)|Daily Herald]]|publication-place=[[Arlington Heights, Illinois|Arlington Heights, Ill.]]|orig-date=Original date June 26, 2023|date=June 27, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|language=en-US}}</ref>

The slowest portion of the corridor is the segment between Chicago and Joliet, but improving this would require an additional $1.5&nbsp;billion investment.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hilkevitch|first=Jon|date=February 24, 2014|title=Improving portion of high-speed rail corridor could cost $1.5 billion|work=Chicago Tribune|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-02-24/news/chi-high-speed-rail-chicago-joliet-st-louis-20140224_1_rail-corridor-amtrak-service-amtrak-trains|url-status=dead|access-date=December 8, 2021|archive-date=February 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215010003/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-02-24/news/chi-high-speed-rail-chicago-joliet-st-louis-20140224_1_rail-corridor-amtrak-service-amtrak-trains}}</ref> Two projects proposed from the [[Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program]] (CREATE) would remove two [[diamond crossing]]s and construct an [[overpass]] to increase train speed and eliminate delays. One project is in the preliminary design phase while the proposed flyover at [[Brighton Park crossing]] is unfunded.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 2015|title=P5 Brighton Park Flyover|url=http://www.createprogram.org/factsheets/P5.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=December 8, 2021|publisher=CREATE|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118003019/http://www.createprogram.org/factsheets/P5.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=September 2016|title=P6 CP Canal Flyover|url=http://www.createprogram.org/factsheets/P6.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=December 8, 2021|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118003533/http://www.createprogram.org/factsheets/P6.pdf}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, an alternative solution rerouting trains via the [[Rock Island District]], which bypasses these diamond crossings and has relatively few freight trains, is being considered. This option would reduce delays and allow higher speeds between Joliet and Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hsrail.org/chicago-hub-improvement-project|title=A New Approach to Chicago|access-date=22 November 22, 2022|website=High Speed Rail Alliance}}</ref>

|rowspan=10|[[Illinois|IL]]||[[Chicago]]||[[Chicago Union Station|Chicago<br/>Union Station]]||{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]] (long-distance): ''[[California Zephyr]]'', ''[[Capitol Limited]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Cardinal}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|City of New Orleans}}, ''[[Empire Builder]]'', ''[[Lake Shore Limited]]'', ''[[Southwest Chief]]'', ''[[Texas Eagle]]''<br>{{rint|us|Amtrak}} Amtrak (intercity): {{lnl|Amtrak|Blue Water}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Borealis}}, ''[[Hiawatha Service|Hiawatha]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Illini and Saluki}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Pere Marquette}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Wolverine}}<br/>{{rint|chicago|metra}} [[Metra]]: {{rcb|Metra|bnsf|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|mdn|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|mdw|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|nc|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|hc|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|sw|inline=square}}<br>{{rint|chicago|l}} [[Chicago "L"]]: {{rcb|CTA|Blue|inline=route}} <small>(at {{cta|Clinton|Blue}})</small>, {{rcb|CTA|Brown|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Orange|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Pink|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Purple|inline=route}} <small>(at {{cta|Quincy}})</small><br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[List of Chicago Transit Authority bus routes|CTA Bus]]: 1, 7, J14, 19, 28, 56, 60, 120, 121, 124, 125, 126, 128, 130, 151, 156, 157, 192<br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[Pace (transit)|Pace Bus]]: 755 Plainfield–IMD–West Loop Express<br/>{{rint|us|amtrakbus}} [[Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach]], {{rint|us|megabus}} [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]], {{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]], [[Peoria Charter]]

||[[Missouri|MO]]||[[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]]||[[Gateway Transportation Center|Gateway<br/>Transportation<br/>Center]]||{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Missouri River Runner}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}}<br>{{rint|stlouis}} [[MetroLink (St. Louis)|MetroLink]]: {{rcb|MetroLink (St. Louis)|Red|inline=route}} {{rcb|MetroLink (St. Louis)|Blue|inline=route}} <small>(at {{stl|MetroLink (St. Louis)|Civic Center}})</small><br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[MetroBus (St. Louis)|MetroBus]]: 4, 8, 10, 11, 32, 74, 80, 94, 99, 36X, 40X, 58X, 410X, 174X<br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[Madison County Transit]]: 1X, 3X, 12X, 14X, 16X, 18X <br> {{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]], {{rint|bus}} [[Burlington Trailways]], {{rint|us|megabus}} [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]], {{rint|us|amtrakbus}} [[Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach]]