October 24, 2006 Amtrak to Seek Order to Keep Illinois Lincoln Service and Saluki Train Service
Order would counter Canadian National-Illinois Central Railroad effort to cancel agreement for new passenger train service
CHICAGO - Amtrak is prepared to seek an emergency order requiring Canadian National-Illinois Central (CN-IC) Railroad to honor the existing agreement between the two railroads allowing the addition of new passenger trains between Chicago and St. Louis and between Chicago and Carbondale.
Amtrak would seek relief from a National Arbitration Panel or a restraining order in Federal court, should the CN-IC make a final decision not to honor the agreement.
The service expansion, being carried out by Amtrak for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), is set to begin on October 30 and runs over tracks owned in part by the CN-IC. In July, Amtrak and the CN-IC signed an agreement permitting the new trains to operate on the CN-IC tracks.
On October 19th, CN-IC attempted to change the agreement to reduce the number of trains and shorten its term. Illinois rejected this proposal by CN-IC. Already popular with passengers, some of the trains are sold out during the upcoming holiday season.
Following a Carbondale news conference on Sept. 25, tickets have been on sale for the Saluki (Trains 390 & 391) and Illini (Trains 392 & 393). Ticket availability for the Lincoln Service (Trains 300 & 301, 302 & 305, 306 & 307) to and from St. Louis was announced on Oct. 14.
"Canadian National's unilateral move to violate its existing agreement allowing trains to operate is an affront to Illinois and its rail passengers," said William Crosbie, Amtrak Senior Vice President, Operations. "Amtrak has been in communication with CN-IC officials since March concerning this service. Amtrak has hired and trained employees, renovated train equipment, purchased advertising and mounted a series of public events - some of which CN was a participant - supporting the new train frequencies.
"CN-IC is now trying to back out of the agreement," Crosbie said, pointing out Amtrak and IDOT will be resolute in enforcement of the pact to add new frequencies on downstate Illinois routes, in response to legislative action and to satisfy public demand.
Amtrak has no plans to cancel these additional trains and is continuing to accept reservations and sell tickets on all routes and frequencies. Expanded service on the Chicago-Quincy route is unaffected by this matter.
Amtrak, IDOT and other railroads have invested capital on the Chicago-Joliet route to increase capacity and improve reliability for passenger trains. Less than 37 miles of the 284-mile Chicago-St. Louis route is on tracks owned by CN-IC between Chicago and Joliet. Three Amtrak trains and three commuter trains make round-trips on this route, with no commuter trains on weekends. Under the agreement with CN-IC, two more daily round-trips by Amtrak trains will be added for a total of eight passenger train round-trips on weekdays, five passenger train round-trips on weekends.
Nearly the entire 310-mile Chicago-Carbondale route is on tracks owned by CN-IC. Two Amtrak trains currently make round-trips on this route, with all commuter trains using dedicated tracks nearby. Under the agreement with CN-IC, one more daily round-trip by Amtrak trains will be added for a total of three passenger train round-trips daily.
The expanded service comes after news that all state-sponsored Amtrak routes posted record ridership levels for Illinois' Fiscal Year 2006 and with an increase in state funding for passenger rail service by Amtrak from $12.1 million to $24 million approved by the Illinois General Assembly and Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.