NORMAL, Ill. — An Amtrak train Thursday barreled down a central Illinois track at 109 mph in a demonstration of the states’ progress toward the establishment of a high-speed passenger rail line, the Northwest Indiana News reported.
The state’s goal is to have trains traveling as fast as 110 mph between Chicago and St. Louis by 2004
Passengers, who sat in cars propelled by a standard, P42 General Electric locomotive built to run on the original Penn Central Corridor, watched the trees and people with cameras whiz by. They also watched the tracks ahead and the train’s speed through a computerized television monitoring system that some say brings hope to high-speed rail service in the Midwest where at-grade crossings are as common as Holsteins in a cornfield.
“Ladies and gentlemen” the conductor announced just a few minutes out of the depot gate. “Our speed at this time is 102, a hundred-and-two miles an hour.” Seconds later, it topped out at 109.
Rob Newbold, deputy secretary of Indiana Department of Transportation, said the demonstration not only shows Illinois’ progress to establish a high-speed passenger rail line, it solidifies it.
It’s taken nearly $140 million in state, federal and private funds to upgrade the Chicago-to-St. Louis corridor in the past 10 years, IDOT officials said. The Illinois FIRST program has provided 70 million for track upgrades and grade crossing protection between Springfield and Dwight, Ill., work expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“High-speed rail service is a key component of our Illinois transportation plan,” Newbold said. “Our ultimate objective is to reduce travel time from five hours to three-and-a-half hours from Chicago to St. Louis to increase viability and ridership, and more options for people who want to make that trip.”
The ride from Normal to Lexington also highlighted the first-of-its-kind, satellite-based technology system that is needed for faster rail service.
Illinois believes the technology manufactured by Lockheed Martin to be significant because the system can run on the same track as freight lines.
A train can be tracked to its location to within nine feet to help with lowering gates and can even control the speed of the train to make sure the engineer stays within speed limits, or ensure the train can be stopped if he or she becomes incapacitated.
The system will also allow trains to run closer together, but more safely.
Robert McCown, director of high-speed rail technology with the Federal Railroad Administration, said Illinois has taken a lead role in figuring out a way to make that happen.
McCown said federal law in place since the 1940s mandates speed at less than 80 mph, prompting most freight and passenger trains to run at speeds of 79 mph, unless an adequate safety system is in place.
“As states proposed to go at higher speeds across the country, the equipment system is always an issue,” he said.
David Tomzik, a member of the Midwest High Speed Rail Coalition, called the demonstration encouraging.
“It shows we are committed to high-speed rail in Illinois,” Tomzik said. “It has happened in California, in Washington state and on the East Coast. Now, it’s time for the Midwest to have upgraded service.”
W. Dennis Hodges, director of Indiana High Speed Rail Association, said he was impressed with the smooth ride and the fact the system is using existing equipment.
“It’s a model for us to use,” Hodges said. “We just have to spin this to influence the legislature for funding in Indiana.”
Individuals speaking on background at the event said Indiana is lagging behind, while Illinois advances high-speed rail programs and the state of Michigan continues testing a different system to run trains at speeds greater than 90 miles an hour for Chicago-to-Detroit service.
That connection cannot be made without Indiana.
“I think Indiana is interested, but has not made any major (funding) commitment,” McCown said.
Indiana Department of Transportation held public hearings over the last year to tap sentiment about high-speed rail and funding issues, and the Indiana high-speed rail coalition has lobbied lawmakers for a .04 percent split of the state’s 6 percent sales tax.
Lately, Hodges said the group hopes to meet with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and some legislators to formulate a proposal to seek 1.5 million in funds, either through the sales tax or a 1.5 million grant from the general fund.