According to Gov. JB Pritzker, a high-speed rail project will allow trains to travel between Chicago and St. Louis at up to 110 mph (177 kph), cutting travel time by 15 minutes.
The increased speeds go into effect on June 26 and will shorten the trip to five hours and 13 minutes. According to Amtrak timetables, travel times from St. Louis to Chicago are a few minutes shorter.
The current top speed limit for the route is 90 mph (144.8 kph).
According to Pritzker, the $1.96 billion upgrade increased speeds while enhancing safety at 212-grade crossings.
U.S.: “We are taking a significant step in modernizing rail services today.
The railway has always been essential to our state’s infrastructure.” said Senator Dick Durbin.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant received that year provided $1.66 billion in federal money for the project, with $300 million coming from state and non-federal sources.
The construction began in 2010 and it was finished in 2018. But it has undergone numerous years’ worth of testing.
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