Saluki (Amtrak)

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Saluki
Info
Type Inter-city rail
System Amtrak
Terminals ChicagoCarbondale, Illinois
Operation
Opened 2006
Owner IC (CN) (track)
Operator(s) Amtrak
Technical
Line length 310 miles (499 km)
Gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Amtrak Saluki route[1]
Distance Station (all in Illinois)
KBFa
0 Chicago Union Station
HST
25 mi (40 km) Homewood
HST
57 mi (92 km) Kankakee
HST
82 mi (132 km) Gilman
HST
115 mi (185 km) Rantoul
HST
129 mi (208 km) Champaign-Urbana
HST
174 mi (280 km) Mattoon
HST
201 mi (323 km) Effingham
HST
254 mi (409 km) Centralia
HST
289 mi (465 km) Du Quoin
HSTe
310 mi (499 km) Carbondale

The Saluki is a 310-mile (499 km) passenger train operated by Amtrak running between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The train service uses the same track as two other Amtrak trains, the City of New Orleans and the Illini, providing one additional daily round trip on the route.

The Saluki is an outgrowth of the Illini, which, along with the rest of the Illinois Service trains, posted record ridership levels in the 2005-2006 fiscal year. Combined with strong support from the communities through which the Illini runs, this made the addition of another train an obvious decision. Service on the route began on October 30, 2006.

The train gets its name from the saluki dog breed, which is the mascot of Southern Illinois University in the train's southern terminus of Carbondale.

The trains are typically made up of the engine, three coach cars, and the combination cafe/lounge car.

[edit] Station stops

The Saluki, trains 391 southbound and 390 northbound, stop at 11 stations in Illinois, including the originating and terminating stations, Union Station in Chicago and Carbondale. The southbound Saluki is scheduled to depart Chicago at 9:15 a.m. and arrive in Carbondale at 2:45 p.m. The northbound Saluki is scheduled to depart Carbondale at 7:30 a.m. and arrive in Chicago at 1 p.m.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Amtrak (2007-04-02). City of New Orleans, Illini-Saluki timetable (PDF). Retrieved on 2007-07-17.

[edit] External links