Black Hawk (Amtrak)

Infobox rail line
name = "Black Hawk"
color =

logo_width =


image_width =
caption =
type = Inter-city rail
system = Amtrak
status = Closed
locale =
start = Chicago, Illinois
end = Dubuque, Iowa
stations =
routes =
ridership =
open = 1974
close = 1981
owner = Illinois Central Railroad (track)
operator = Amtrak
character =
stock =
linelength = convert|182|mi|km
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge = RailGauge|ussg
el =
speed =
elevation =

Amtrak Black Hawk
map_state = showThe "Black Hawk" was an Amtrak route from Chicago, Illinois, to Dubuque, Iowa, using Budd Company rail diesel cars between 1974 and approximately 1978 when the RDCs were replaced with Amfleet equipment using EMD F40PH diesel locomotives. Service ended in 1981, a victim of budget cuts under the Reagan administration. [Solomons (2004), 56, 152.]

The route used the former Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad route (then part of the Illinois Central Railroad) between Chicago's Union Station and Bridgeport and the Freeport Subdivision west of Bridgeport. [Solomons (2004), 44.]

Amtrak, at the state of Illinois' request, did a recent feasibility study to reinstate the "Black Hawk" route to Rockford and Dubuque. Initial capital costs range from $32 million to $55 million, depending on the route. Once in operation, the service would require roughly $5 million a year in subsidies from the state. [cite web | title=AMTRAK-ILLINOIS DOT FEASIBILITY STUDY DETERMINES MOST DIRECT ROUTE BEST FOR SERVICE TO ROCKFORD, NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS AND DUBUQUE, IOWA | url=http://www.returnthetrain.com/files/ATK_07_057_Rockford_route_decision_1_.pdf | work=Amtrak | date=May 16, 2007 | accessdate=2008-05-02]

Notes

References

*cite book | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=313LC1TljQMC | title=Amtrak | first=Brian | last=Solomon | year=2004 | publisher=MBI Publishing Company | isbn=0760317658