Ambitious restoration and transformation in the Chicago area

[Metra Electric Rider]

I think that we should probably keep the NICTD and CN plans slightly separate in our minds for the moment. I'm hopeful for the CN routing since that would be quite practical (the new tracks into the CUS approach especially).

IIRC the Munster extension will be alongside existing freight (although, after being out that way last week, it seems like there was no track at all where I thought the route was - a rail trail, but I don't know Munster that well).

 

[joelkfla]

More on funding for Chicago Union Station Access Project...

Officials stress importance of grant for Chicago passenger project - Trains

CHICAGO — Key contributors seeking $251.1 million from a federal competitive grant program focused on Chicago Union Station improvements at a Thursday event to announce their involvement. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, and Metra CEO/Executive...

www.trains.com

"The plan was presented as “The Chicago Union Station Access Project,” even though many aspects address how Amtrak trains enter the Windy City from the south and east."​

Gee, that sounds like Union Station access to me.

 

[jis]

I think that we should probably keep the NICTD and CN plans slightly separate in our minds for the moment. I'm hopeful for the CN routing since that would be quite practical (the new tracks into the CUS approach especially).

IIRC the Munster extension will be alongside existing freight (although, after being out that way last week, it seems like there was no track at all where I thought the route was - a rail trail, but I don't know Munster that well).

At Munster (by where the proposed NICT service will terminate, there better be at least one freight track since the Cardinal runs on it today! It just uses a different more convoluted routing to get to it.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

At Munster (by where the proposed NICT service will terminate, there better be at least one freight track since the Cardinal runs on it today! It just uses a different more convoluted routing to get to it.

It's a trackless trolley?

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

There actually isn't a track in places - further north, at Ridge, there are no crossings! So we were both right, yay!

Here's the crossing @ Ridge and Manor which I was thinking of - looks like the Cardinal joins the route with active tracks further south.

 

[MikefromCrete]

The site in the picture is the former Monon Railroad right of way that NICTD will use to build the West Lake Corridor. It will end on the north side of Dyer, just a bit north of the present CSX route used by the Cardinal and the Dyer Amtrak station. A short section of track would be needed to connect the NICTD with CSX.

 

[jis]

There actually isn't a track in places - further north, at Ridge, there are no crossings! So we were both right, yay!

Here's the crossing @ Ridge and Manor which I was thinking of - looks like the Cardinal joins the route with active tracks further south.

View attachment 28809

Yes. I knew that

 

[Brystar41]

Hi everyone!

I saw the recent news of the new massive plan for Chicago Union Station, and I am puzzled because isn't Chicago doing the whole CREATE project with the Railway networks of both Freight and Passenger in the Chicago metropolitan area?
I know that CREATE has P4, which will be from the Grand Crossing area of Chicago and will link from CN tracks to NS tracks. I wonder if that is still going in effect, or is it still on hold because that would be a direct way for Amtrak trains to head into Chicago easily.

All of the massive plans are amazing and looking forward to it when I go to the Midwest region since I am in Florida.
Anyways it is nice to meet y'all.

 

[Brystar41]

Also on that note since this will affect Amtrak then what about Metra and the communities it serves? How will this affect their services? Such as the Heritage Corridor that goes to Joliet?

 

[jis]

Also on that note since this will affect Amtrak then what about Metra and the communities it serves? How will this affect their services? Such as the Heritage Corridor that goes to Joliet?

Read the entire thread including the linked documents and the answer to your questions will become self-evident.

 

[MikefromCrete]

Also on that note since this will affect Amtrak then what about Metra and the communities it serves? How will this affect their services? Such as the Heritage Corridor that goes to Joliet?

The St. Charles Air Line revamp along with the new entrance to CUS from the Air Line will negate any use of the Grand Crossing plan. The Grand Crossing plan would just put more Amtak trains on NS, and we know what that means, more delays. The use of the South Shore route for the Michigan and LD trains will also take Amtrak off the NS which is continually in a state of breaking down.
As far as moving the Lincoln service and TE trains onto the Metra Rock Island, this should have no effect on the Heritage Service, except to open up a few time slots for more Heritage trains, all subject to CN's delays, of course.

 

[Brystar41]

The St. Charles Air Line revamp along with the new entrance to CUS from the Air Line will negate any use of the Grand Crossing plan. The Grand Crossing plan would just put more Amtak trains on NS, and we know what that means, more delays. The use of the South Shore route for the Michigan and LD trains will also take Amtrak off the NS which is continually in a state of breaking down.
As far as moving the Lincoln service and TE trains onto the Metra Rock Island, this should have no effect on the Heritage Service, except to open up a few time slots for more Heritage trains, all subject to CN's delays, of course.

Ahh so that explains it, so it means the P4 could possibly be that project Amtrak, Metra, and Chicago have in store with the grade separation and connections to the Air Line. Also didn't know that of NS, I thought they are working with Amtrak to improve their railway lines?
Still looking forward to it and among other changes coming too. I hope Metra can electrify some of its lines, I understand not all will be but at least the ones that are possible and could make sense.

But for now, this is great, and glad they are improving these crossings as it will be more efficient to do so. Just wondering what will happen to stations such as Summit? And Heritage corridor is still going to continue on the CN route to Joliet, I hope you are right and they did increase service it seems weird that there is no weekend service at all.

 

[MikefromCrete]

The Heritage Corridor is definitely the Metra line with the least service. It originated with a single Gulf, Mobile and Ohio commuter train. After Metra took over, several new trips were started. The line probably has the lowest population of any Metra route, so that probably helps explain the low level of service. Metra is offering Saturday trips this summer as part of a tourism promotion with towns like Lockport and Lemont. Whether this develops into year-round service is yet to be seen. Metra has still not resumed Saturday service on the Southwest Service route whose weekday service is mostly rush-hour commuters.
As far as Summit is concerned, it will still be served by Metra. With the Lincoln service and Eagle trains rerouted on the Rock Island, Amtrak may add a stop at some place like Tinley Park or Blue Island, both much larger towns than Summit.
The CN/Heritage corridor line is plagued by delays with grade-level crossings of major freight routes. The Rock Island's only grade level crossings with other railroads are with the CN/ex-EJ&E at Joliet and the St. Charles Air Line south of LaSalle Street station.

 

[NorthShore]

This seems like an appropriate time to recall the CWI Plan: an alternative proposed by local rail advocates to portions of CREATE, as well as construction/implementation of new commuter rail 20 years ago. It was designed as a way to incrementally improve service and eliminate cross traffic such that these benefits would be realized in more immediate impact than CREATE could. It was a substantive plan, which ought to have been given more credence and serious consideration. However, having been put together not by paid consultants or official planners, it wasn't offered the kind of thoughtful potential that it deserved by powers that be at that time. Nonethless, it was reasonably promoted and publicly recognized. It ought to be revisited as part of historical understanding of possibilities which existed and in comparatively evaluating the effectiveness and cost of what has been accomplised (or not) with CREATE, as well as considering what still might be of worth today.

The Transit Riders' Authority

transit.chicago.il.us

 

[Brystar41]

The Heritage Corridor is definitely the Metra line with the least service. It originated with a single Gulf, Mobile and Ohio commuter train. After Metra took over, several new trips were started. The line probably has the lowest population of any Metra route, so that probably helps explain the low level of service. Metra is offering Saturday trips this summer as part of a tourism promotion with towns like Lockport and Lemont. Whether this develops into year-round service is yet to be seen. Metra has still not resumed Saturday service on the Southwest Service route whose weekday service is mostly rush-hour commuters.
As far as Summit is concerned, it will still be served by Metra. With the Lincoln service and Eagle trains rerouted on the Rock Island, Amtrak may add a stop at some place like Tinley Park or Blue Island, both much larger towns than Summit.
The CN/Heritage corridor line is plagued by delays with grade-level crossings of major freight routes. The Rock Island's only grade level crossings with other railroads are with the CN/ex-EJ&E at Joliet and the St. Charles Air Line south of LaSalle Street station.

Thanks for the info on the situation with the whole upgrade projects Chicago and Amtrak Midwest is going thru. Also, Note I haven't been to Chicago nor the Midwest before but I do want to make a trip there on future Amtrak trains, I do want to try out the Venture cars they have there.

I was hoping to see the CREATE P4 project go thru because its a bummer on how the NS tracks, Amtrak won't be able to go thru because I checked the track routings of the surrounding area and also the Map that CREATE has and I do see that for Amtrak Trains coming into Chicago from the South and East of the US. It's more or less a Straight line to CUS. But it's a bummer that with the delays that NS has that Amtrak is thinking of a way around it, which I am looking forward to their new plan to use the CN route and use that flyover. But I wonder how the trains will be able to go up the flyover and be able to connect.

Another concern I see is Metra's Rock Island and Southwest services have to go thru a flat crossing? I am wondering if that is going to be addressed because that way there wouldn't be interference in each other operations. Also, another flat crossing would be for the Amtrak Trains heading to Michigan and the east coast, Is there any in the plans for a possible flyover that way it won't interfere with operations. I know places such as Europe and Asia where Railway operations are mostly separated by flyovers that way, there won't be interference?

Still, I do hope this project happens and any improvements to Railway infrastructure and Transportation, in general, are better than a no-build.

 

[Brystar41]

Hello everyone!

Also what is the recent update to this amazing news so far!

 

[MisterUptempo]

FRA awards $3 million grant for Chicago Union Station concourse project​

The Federal Railroad Administration will award $3 million in funding to complete the design for planned renovations to the concourse at Chicago Union Station.

The federal grant will be matched with $1.5 million from Metra, $600,000 from the Chicago Department of Transportation, $400,000 from Amtrak, and $250,000 each from the Illinois Department of Transportation and Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways. Amtrak and Metra trains serve the station.

Link to story at Progressive Railroading

Amtrak says that they anticipate an answer to their MEGA grant request by the end of September. Maybe getting FRA cash to complete the final designs might bode well for a thumbs up from the Feds on MEGA. Fingers crossed.

 

[TransitTyrant]

FRA awards $3 million grant for Chicago Union Station concourse project​

Link to story at Progressive Railroading

Amtrak says that they anticipate an answer to their MEGA grant request by the end of September. Maybe getting FRA cash to complete the final designs might bode well for a thumbs up from the Feds on MEGA. Fingers crossed.

I’m thinking the fact that lots of high profile Illinois politicians were at the July press conference bode well for its chances. That and Gardner calling it Amtraks most important current project. Getting everything funded before the 2024 election would ideal too.