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Work beginning this summer on new Illinois passenger route
The distance is about 165 miles, a bit more than 50 on the Iowa Interstate and about 112 on the CBQ/BNSF.
Mr. McGinty, the old NYC (Big Four) you refer to from Kankakee down to Indy was in bad shape when I rode the James Whitcomb Riley back in 1972.
Neither the BNSF or IAIS segments are only passenger routes. Both carry freight traffic,the BNSF more so than the IAIS.
The article mentions changes/modifications/improvements at Eola Yard, does anybody know what this entails?
NATHAN ANDERSON from Massachusetts,
VASYL DOMASHEVSKY from ILLINOIS,
You willing to pay for it?
I didn’t think so. Why pay for it when you can get somebody else to pay for it for your benefit. Even if the only benefit to you is European style bragging rights.
Instead of having the users pay the full costs, force those never using it to pay for it. And before you even think about ranting about roads, truck drivers, farmers, and the processors in between, think about who provides and brings the finished stuff to your grocery store. That is, if you are able to comprehend at that economic level of thought. Like I have said in the past, those who support passenger trains run by socialist government and not the private sector are economic illiterates.
I never have a problem with the private sector doing these things with private sector funds. Exhibit A: Florida’s private sector passenger train to Mickey Mouse. But I will admit surprise due to how Florida has allowed it to get this far without government interference.
Mr Guse says:
“But I will admit surprise due to how Florida has allowed it to get this far without government interference.”
Oh they have tried my friend. The AAF people pretty much tell them to get out of the way every time they ask. They have followed FDOT and EPA rules completely with the hearings.
Wait until they start operating and actually do well! They will have every politico on the coast demanding a stop. Tampa officials are already stewing that they may not get Phase 2. (Jacksonville is likely) That is where everyone expects political interference.
I am happy for Moline. This one makes sense, especially if they get it to go on to Iowa City. Forget Dubuque, waste of tax dough.
Good for western Illinois. Active transportation projects such as these encourage safe and environmentally friendly transportation options that are developmentally efficient when compared to roads. These projects make our communities stronger and healthier.
Glad to hear that this project is coming to fruition… and glad to pay the taxes that fund it. The hidden hand of the market is not always what’s best for a society. If it were, there would be more stores selling fruit than cigarettes. A state should not be confused with socialism, just because it encourages positive interdependent systems. Passenger rail infrastructure must be preserved and expanded in the greater interest of our country.
Too bad the ex-Rock segment from Joliet to Wyanet had been downgraded to the point fixing it is too much moola. And that the bridge at Englewood that was to have connected the Rock to Union Station never received tracks and was removed. Scratch another potential passenger route lost by decisions made too late, added to a list that includes service through downtown Atlanta and the ex-Big Four lines from Kankakee through Indy to Cincy.
Good for forward thinking Illinois. The fewer cars on our roads the better. Is it a dedicated passenger route. Mr. Guse must be having a cow over this…perhaps he should move next door to Indiana? (Ref yesterday’s trolley story).
This is great news. I can’t wait until service to Galena I’ll. A real pain to drive out there
This is great news. I can’t wait until service to Galena I’ll. A real pain to drive out there
Anybody know how many miles this route will be?
Build it in increments! At a public forum in Mendota, one of the state’s representatives indicated that day trips from the Quad Cities to Galesburg or Macomb and return might be feasible, with double-daily frequencies much like the American Royal and Kansas City Zephyr schedule pattern currently on the Quincy line.
YARD improvements in Eola? This has to do with passenger service how??
What will the new service be called?? What about “The Guse Zephyr”???
The Guse Zephyr would be buses, buses, and more buses.
More service translates to more usage. This has been proven time after time.
Farmers get federal subsidies to grow crops, the processors get federal subsidies to produce, and the roads used by the public and private sector get federal subsidies for maintenance and construction. And a loaded truck causes the same amount of stress to a pavement as 2000+ autos. If all subsidies were removed from every aspect of society no one could afford to go to the grocery store, no matter who delivered it.
This is good news. As for trucks, we’ve seen all the disasters and tragedies they have been responsible for in the last couple of weeks.