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Amtrak service to Rockford ‘on hold’
One could see this development coming from ten miles away. Who defines pragmatism depends on the electorate and that cycle seems to erase continuity and how the results are viewed depends on who is looking.
And so it goes…
This has the makings of repeat of WI (and Ohio) in 2011. One difference is preparations for building Milwaukee-Madison was further along, including of course, the procurment of equipment.
But I have to say that if Chicago-Rockford was planned to kick off with the same pathetic one train each way daily, like the Amtrak Blackhawk of earlier years, it’s just not worth it. In a market like this either you build for multi-frequency service or you don’t build at all. Travelers want choices. Offering one chance in 24 hours just won’t cut it anymore.
Good move for the taxpayers of Illinois. Finally they may start getting a break. They shouldn’t make the same mistake that Maine made by sending an empty train to nowhere. Frequent bus service can be instituted far more cheaply than a once a day Amtrak train. Use the money to further develop the corridors that have a good size population that can support multiple frequnecies to adequately support the service.
Perhaps Mr. McGuire would like to explain his “empty train to nowhere” comment further, as everything that I have heard indicates that the Downeaster trains are a great success and are only limited in expansion in distance and frequency by the efforts of some of the NIMBY’s in Maine. As for the comment about the once a day proposed service of the Chicago-Rockford train, I agree completely. Use the equipment already coming to increase service on the existing corridors and on the new service to the Quad Cities which is already far enough along that it will probably happen.
Rockford already has “frequent bus service”…which for the last 2 years, and the next 2 years, is affected by the massive reconstruction projects on I-90. The Amtrak service plan was for 1 train each way in 2015, then 2 each way in 2016, once the new Rochelle-built equipment and new locomotives started being delivered.
I believe that one of the cities on the proposed route, Belvidere, has already begun construction on a new Amtrak station in that city.
so why is the governor playing with some thing he has no knowledge of on how to how to run as a Federal railroad project hat has been in the work s sine the 2012 for AMTRAK service
why are the traveling public being again refused quicker way to down to Chicago use of then be governor’s plan I still haven’ see I’m come up with any of idea’s yet from his run for Governor
In the real world, that is with the exception of the USA, one finds fast and frequent service between city pairs and suburban areas. Anyone who thinks that ideology does not trump the facts here is in denial. Three per hour each way Chicago-Rockford would obviate much highway construction waste.
Why does the project have to be put on hold? Why??? This is ridiculous.
While I support the idea of railroad passenger service, what with Illinois being well over 100 billion dollars in the debt (Crain’s Chicago Business) we really need to get our financial house in order before embarking on new projects no matter how well meaning. And in case anyone is wondering, Rauner has also put a hold a large number of highway projects. Illinois has been living in la-la land for too long.
People will be surprised by the number of passengers that ride this new train once it is up and running. It won’t be long until more than one per day is needed !!!
Illinois has been rated as the worst run state in the country for the past several years, it has been paying for many items with IOUs, it is number 2 in the country for businesses and people moving out, it has some of the highest taxes in the country, and it is involved with several court cases over what it must pay first. Employee pensions haven’t been paid anything near their requirement in years and retirements are increasing, leaving little funding for anything else. It is more than $100 billion in debt with long-term debt even more. At some point, even necessary spending will come to a stop and that is starting to happen now. While it would be nice to have this route from Chicago to Rockford, it would also be nice to be able to pay other commitments that the state already has.
As far as the Quad Cities route goes, little has been done here also. While promises of money have been thrown about, little has actually shown up and it has primarily been spent on the BNSF out toward Aurora to add capacity there, where existing trains need the help. Very little has been done on the Iowa Interstate part of the route as here the railroad is saying cash first, then work.
Rauner has given his OK to a number of highway projects. The only highway project that has been stopped is the Illiana Tollway between I-55 and Indiana. So far it seems, Gov. Rauner’s idea of prosperity is to screw the people who work for a living and inflate the wallets of his rich buddies. But what are we to expect from a guy who bought his way into office using his personal wealth.
Dr. Jennings, you are the voice of reason. I feel sorry for those people living in Illinois when they have to pay the bills that successive Democrat governors have rung up.
Mr. Jeffries from Iowa, I was referring to the Brunswick extention of the Downeaster which runs with a capacity of 300 but an average per trip occupancy of 24. While the Portland to Boston route has been somewhat of a success, the Brunswick extention is a total flop and should be discontinued and this would end the NIMBY problem.
I generally support passenger rail (the busses are subsidized too by running on public infrastructure at less than cost), but Illinois is in deep trouble. At this point, the project is on-hold. I hope it and the quad cities service eventually goes forward, but Rauner and the legislature are going to have to prioritize. I think the service would have more potential if it went beyond Rockford to serve Madison as well, with multiple frequencies, but I don’t expect this to happen. The quad cities service needs a faster schedule, multiple frequencies, and extension to Omaha.
Editing people. Does no one proofread these postings?
Robert McGuire is just another train hating troll He will pull a Faux "News, lie as for as his low ridership claims when in fact the trains he puts down are indeed popular. As far as substituting busses for passenger trains, busses are a piss poor substitute on account of being cramped and those horrid toilets that seem to malfunction often thus making the trip a very stinky experience.
Amtrak delayed, but money to hire a sister of an aide for a cushy state job.