Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and transportation officials last week announced the start of a $98 million project to upgrade 90 miles of existing railroad track between Alton and Lincoln to prepare the line for high-speed trains.
The improvements are part of the state’s effort, supported by federal funding, to establish high-speed service between Chicago and St. Louis.
When the corridor is completed, travelers will be able to go from Chicago to St. Louis in under four hours. Trains will travel at a speed of up to 110 miles per hour. The corridor is part of a Midwest network that connects major cities across the region to Chicago. Illinois is in line to receive $1.2 billion in federal stimulus funding for several projects.
