INTERCITY PASSENGER TRAINS - PRESENT AND PAST
INTERCITY PASSENGER TRAINS - PRESENT AND PAST
CHICAGO AND BEYOND
Chicago is Amtrak's main hub outside the Northeast Corridor, with Amtrak trains operating in all different directions. This information will help untangle Amtrak's complex routings.
A brief look at intercity passenger trains serving Chicago since 1971, when Amtrak took over operations of the trains from the private railroads.
Prior to Amtrak's creation, many private railroads operated passenger trains in and out of Chicago. Included are sample departures and arrivals of trains during various eras, and descriptions of the many different routings to get in and out of the various downtown terminals.
Sample departures and arrivals of trains during various eras, for the great old train stations in other cities, Midwest and beyond. Included are links to Web sites revealing what has become of some of these classic stations.
In the long term, high speed corridor services are the most promising type of intercity rail passenger services. But in the Midwest, such services remain appallingly inadequate. But there is interest in developing high speed rail service over several Midwest corridors, if only government spending priorities can be changed.
Information on the schedules and consists of the many streamlined passenger trains throughout America, introduced during the 1930's 1940's and 1950's.
For each of the Midwest/Great Lakes states, color coded maps graphically show the levels of passenger train service during various years.
Chicago's commuter and intercity passenger trains once operated out of seven different downtown terminals. Three of those stations are no longer, and Amtrak has consolidated all remaining intercity passenger trains into Union Station. Includes photos.
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