Illinois Zephyr Shows How State Backing Keeps Rail Service
Illinois spends 8.1 million yearly to operate the Zephyr and its Quincy partner with Amtrak funding 26 million annually for 30 daily trains on four routes. Advocates urge 403(b) trains linking Iowa City to Chicago by 2015, despite Gov Branstad opposition to subsidies. Proponents cite strong ridership potential from Quad Cities and university towns, while skeptics warn culture shift and competition from Megabus.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Illinois
Quincy
Carl Sandburg
Amtrak
Chicago
Milwaukee
Craig Sanders
Cleveland State University
Midwest
Iowa
Iowa City
Terry Branstad
Quad Cities
Tom Carper
Macomb
John Fuller
University of Iowa
School of Urban and Regional Planning
Megabus
Carbondalera
St. Louis
Chicago-New Orleans
New Orleans
Illinois Gazette Departments of Transportation Graphic
Trains Bring Iowa City Peoria Link With Rails
Illinois and Iowa plan 403(b) rail service along the Mississippi to link Macomb Galesburg and Iowa City. Local leaders push funding from county and city sources to supplement state aid as ridership grows and stations reopen after decades.
Amtrak: Birth of the National Passenger Rail Service
Amtrak began May Day 1971 as a public private hybrid to take over intercity trains. The system covered routes from Iowa to Omaha and across the Midwest, with Rock Island not joining until 1971 and later dissolving in bankruptcy in 1978. Amtrak achieved ridership records in seven of eight years with revenues of 2.48 billion against 3.7 billion in expenses.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jordan Smith
Black Hawk East College
Peoria
Ill
Western Illinois University
Macomb
Quincy
Carper
Amtrak
Iowa City
Rock Island
Nancy Quellhorst
Illinois
State Assembly
Penn Central
Craig Sanders
Eastern Railroad
U.S
Congress
Sanders
National Railroad Passenger Corp
Department of Transportation
Iowa
California
Omaha
Mount Pleasant
Ottumwa
Osceola
Creston
Fort Madison
Des Moines
Neb
Chicago
Quad Cities
Rich Harnish
Midwest High Speed Rail Association
Brubaker
Cleveland State University
Heartland
Europe
Asia
John Fuller
University of Iowa
School of Urban and Regional Planning
Northeast
Fuller
Amtrak subsidy debate grows around Iowa rail plan
Amtrak seeks twice daily service to Iowa City via a Wyanet connection with costs pegged at 310 million for service and 5.6 million for the connection. Federal and state funding totals exceed 50 million with ongoing planning and a 6.2 to 7 million annual operating cost, raising questions about taxpayer support versus transport needs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Steve Gravelle
Gazette
Amtrak
Wyanet
Ill
Chicago
BNSF
Prairie Town
Iowa Interstate Railroad
Iowa City
Illinois
Iowa
Also Mentioned on This Page
Bryan Law
Mount Sterling
Dave Ward
Teri Ayers Quincy, Sr
Amtrak Board
Joe Shacter
Illinois Department of Transportation
Pat) Quinn
Field Museum
Shedd Aquarium
Monica Lin
David Linn
Bayley Brake
Galesburg
Chicago Union Station
Branstad
Quellhorst
Iowa City Service
Johnson County
Linn County
Tammy Nicholson
Pravelle
Emedia.net
Nancy Quelihurst
Gravelle
Sourcemedia
Iowa Interstate
Marc Magliari
Environmental Law & Policy Center
Kevin Brubaker
Steve. Gravelle
Sourcemedia Net
Becky Malewitz
the Gazette
Quincy, Il
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