Springfield, Illinois (Amtrak station)

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Springfield

The former Chicago and Alton station, currently utilized as the Amtrak station in Springfield.
Station statistics
Address N. 3rd and Washington Sts.
Springfield, IL 62701
Lines Amtrak:
Lincoln Service
Texas Eagle
Other information
Accessible Handicapped/disabled access
Code SPI
Traffic
Passengers (2007) 141,936 ▲ 28.7%

The Springfield Amtrak station, a brick railroad depot, serves Springfield, Illinois, the state capital. It is at mile 185 on Amtrak's Illinois and Missouri Route. As of 2007, it is served by five trains daily each way: the daily Texas Eagle, and four daily Lincoln Service schedules.

The station was originally constructed by the Chicago and Alton Railroad, and was served by a successor company, the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad, until the startup of Amtrak on May 1, 1971. During the pre-Amtrak era, a variety of name trains served this station, including the Alton Limited, the Abraham Lincoln, and the Midnight Special.

The mural over the ticket office of the Springfield station contains a quotation by Abraham Lincoln as well as the route map of the post-1947 Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The state seals surrounding the mural are from the seven states (Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee)which were served by the GM&O.
The mural over the ticket office of the Springfield station contains a quotation by Abraham Lincoln as well as the route map of the post-1947 Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The state seals surrounding the mural are from the seven states (Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee)which were served by the GM&O.

Springfield is applying for federal grant money to construct a new transportation hub building that could bring together Amtrak and local bus service. Estimates of the cost of this project, published in February 2007, ranged from $13 to $18 million, [1] but this was a decrease from an earlier estimate of $50.0 million. [2] One reason for the discrepancies is uncertainty over whether to try to accomplish a major relocation of railroad tracks that pass through downtown Springfield; the tracks have served the downtown area since the time of Abraham Lincoln.

[edit] See also

Springfield Union Station

[edit] References

  1. ^ Tim Landis, "Planning Mode: Transportation hub could be built for $14m-$18m", "State Journal Register", February 3, 2007
  2. ^ All aboard? by Kurt Erickson - Illinois Issues

[edit] External links

Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station
toward St. Louis
 Lincoln Service
toward Chicago
Texas Eagle
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