After over a decade of planning and work and nearly $2 billion spent, Amtrak finally shaved off half an hour from its Chicago-St. Louis schedule by raising the speed limit from 79mph to 110mph between Joliet and Alton, IL. What's old is new again, as over 60 years ago the GM&O had similar schedules using E units on jointed rail.
On May 3rd, 2023, the speed limit was finally raised from 90mph to 110mph after the Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS, Wabtec's Positive Train Control system in use across the U.S.) was certified for 110mph. Then, on June 26th, 2023, the timetable was finally adjusted to remove 15 to 20 minutes from each train's schedule between Chicago and St. Louis.
I ventured out to Odell, IL on July 14th to witness Amtrak's Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle trains zipping along at 100+mph through the small town and its surrounding cornfields. Normally I am running the trains, not watching them go by, so I did not account for the obnoxiously loud and discordant crossing bells on the Siemens crossing gate installations. Next time I'll have to stand farther away from crossings so that the sound of the horn, the train, and the sweet sound of steel rails singing can be heard more clearly.
Trains featured:
Amtrak 302 Northbound Lincoln Service
IDTX 4610 SC-44
IDTX 4632 SC-44
Amtrak 319 Southbound Lincoln Service/Missouri River Runner
IDTX 4625 SC-44
Amtrak 21 Southbound Texas Eagle
AMTK 62 P42DC
AMTK 192 P42DC
5 авг 2023
