Amtrak Chicago area grant 2023

[Septa9739]

Amtrak has taken another swing at getting funding for the Saint Charles Airline connection, Heritage to Rock Island conversion for downstate IL trains, CUS renovations (which I am not sure are totally essential. How they use it is what causes congestion, not the building itself.) This proposal also covers some double tracking in Michigan, above Niles, which this is the first time I have heard of. The request is a paltry $900,000,000, but would get a lot of work done. Please see the article below, which includes Amtrak's Fact Sheet.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/loc...n-station-amtrak-projects-in-chicago/3200478/

 

[jis]

Railway Age article on the Chicago area FRA CHIP funding request...

https://www.railwayage.com/passenge...-in-fra-funding-for-chip/?RAchannel=intercity

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Sounds like good news - assuming grant is awarded. CN has been doing a fair amount/bit of work along the lakefront south of McPlace (not just) lately. It appears like new signals and ballast in places and both Metra and CN have been revamping bridge columns at the viaduct section (pillars have been in poor condition).

 

[tgstubbs1]

It sounds like a very good thing for all trains needing in or out of there.