The Midwest region is a national leader in planning and

developing an integrated, multi-state passenger rail

network that has resulted in improved service. Ridership

on key corridors has grown by over 70% since 2000.

Chicago to St. Louis Corridor: The Illinois Department of

Transportation (IDOT) initiated 110-mph service on a

15-mile segment of the Chicago-St. Louis Corridor

between the cities of Dwight and Pontiac as part of the

nearly $1.4 billion Federal investment in the corridor. A

Record of Decision issued by the FRA in December 2012

approved a corridor program that will expand 110-mph

service and increase frequencies on the entire corridor.

Chicago to Detroit Corridor: Passenger trains operate

between Porter, IN and Kalamazoo, MI at speeds up to

110-mph – the rst corridor outside the Northeast

Corridor to operate at high speeds. To expand 110-mph

service on the corridor, the State of Michigan purchased

135 miles of right of way from the Norfolk Southern

Railroad using HSIPR funds as a part of the KalamazooDearborn Service Development Program through a

$150 million investment. Kalamazoo-Dearborn work will

soon begin, thanks to $196.5 million in HSIPR funds,

including upgrades to track, signals and infrastructure to

support Positive Train Control, improve passenger and

freight service on the line, and positively impact Amtrak’s

on-time performance.

Bringing new passenger rail cars to multiple states:

In November 2012, the California Department of

Transportation awarded a contract with a base contract

price of $352.2 million – 36 percent below expectations –

for 130 bi-level rail cars to serve California, the Midwest

and the Pacic Northwest. The Sumitomo-Nippon Sharyo

joint venture will produce the cars in Rochelle, IL, with

deliveries projected to begin in 2015.

MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN CHICAGO OHIO MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL INDIANA ST. LOUIS

All images: Wikimedia Commons

MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN CHICAGO OHIO MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL INDIANA ST. LOUIS

All images: Wikimedia Commons

CANADA

NORTH DAKOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

NEBRASKA

MISSOURI

IOWA

MINNESOTA

WISCONSIN

MICHIGAN

ILLINOIS

INDIANA

OHIO

Chicago

Minneapolis

St. Louis

Kansas City

Detroit

Cleveland

Milwaukee

Omaha

Duluth

Green Bay

Fargo

Indianapolis

Cincinnati

Columbus

Grand Rapids

Iowa City

La Crosse

Quincy

Carbondale

Port Huron

Pontiac

Quad Cities

Hiawatha

Lincoln

Carl Sandburg/Illinois Zephyr

Illini/Saluki

Hoosier State

Cardinal

Southwest Chief

California Zephyr

Missouri River Runner

Texas Eagle

City of New Orleans

Capitol Limited/

Lake Shore Limited

Empire Builder

Wolverine

Blue Water

Pere Marquette

Sioux Falls

Population Density

Low High

Regional (90-125 mph)

Emerging (up to 90 mph)

Amtrak Long-Distance Route

Corridor Planning

Class I Railroad

N 50 miles

LEGEND

America’s Rail Network: Midwest Region
Global Rank

(comparable to)

(Russia)

6

(Spain, France, Germany,

Portugal, Belgium, 

Luxembourg, Switzerland, 

and the Netherlands 

combined)

18

(United Kingdom)

22

64M

21% of U.S.

$2.8 Trillion

19% of U.S.

670,000 sq. mi.

19% of U.S.

-

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

Passe

n

g

ers (in

millio

ns)

+69%

Since 2005

66%

Served

HSIPR TIGER RRIF Other Total More Trains/

NewService Faster Travel BetterReliability

Improved

Stations/

Equipment

Chicago - St. Louis 284 $1,343 $46 - - $1,390

Track and signal upgradesto allow for reduced travel times and

110mph service;station upgrades; improvementsto provide a safer

and more reliable service.

  

Chicago -Detroit - Pontiac 304 $598 - - $4 $602

Acquisition and improvement ofrail line to allow for 110mph

service; new and upgraded stations;signal improvements;railroad

congestion mitigation projects.

  

Chicago -Iowa City -Omaha 470 $231 $10 - $3 $244 New service connecting Iowa City to Chicago via the Quad Cities.  

Chicago - Milwaukee - Twin Cities 418 $71 $35 - - $106 Rehabilitation of a multi-modal station in Twin Cities;track work.  

Twin Cities-Duluth 155 $5 - - $2 $7 Evaluationsfor potential new service to Duluth. 

St. Louis- Kansas City 283 $36 - - $3 $39 Track and bridge projectsto improve safety and reliability.  

Multiple Midwest Corridors n/a $268 $100 - $2 $370

Purchase of at least 88 next generation passenger cars and 21

locomotivesfor service on 8 midwestern corridors; investmentsin

passenger/freight bottlenecks around Chicago.

 

Other Corridors/ Freight Investments n/a $17 $13 $176 $40 $246 Improvementsto freight corridors and long-distance service.

State Rail Plans n/a $1 - - - $1 Planning to lay groundwork for future rail service.

TOTAL $2,571 $204 $176 $54 $3,005

Service Improvements

planning

varies

Federal Investments ($M, 2008-2012)

Corridor Distance

(miles) Investment Description

Midwest Region

SOURCES : Population: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010. Economy: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2010. 

International Statistics: CIA World Factbook, 2012. All Other Information: Federal Railroad Administration, 2012.

$

Population

Economy

Land Area

Population within 30 miles of a passenger station 

that receives at least one daily intercity train.

Region Characteristics Population Served

Corridor Details

Ridership Growth