(The Associated Press circulated the following article on October 17.)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin hailed the first Midwest Amtrak expansion in nearly 20 years Tuesday in a meeting with more than 30 mayors from across the state.
Durbin met with the mayors to discuss a planned expansion of passenger rail service set to begin at the end of the month. The mayors also met with Amtrak President Alex Kummant, and discussed the possibility of future expansion of rail service in northwest and north central Illinois.
State support for Amtrak doubled to $24 million this year, resulting in more round-trip trains from Chicago to St. Louis, Carbondale and Quincy. For cities along the routes, more trains mean more connection to Chicago, which can help local businesses and attract new ones.
”I want to commend the state of Illinois for entering into a historic partnership with Amtrak to provide new jobs and new service for riders from Chicago to Quincy to Carbondale,” Durbin said in a statement.
Daily train service between Chicago and St. Louis will increase from three round-trips to five round-trips, with new morning and evening departure times.
The expansion also includes additional round-trips on the Chicago-Carbondale and Chicago-Quincy lines.