Springfield, Illinois (Amtrak station)

Infobox Station
style=Amtrak
name=Springfield


image_size=300
image_caption=The former Chicago and Alton station, currently utilized as the Amtrak station in Springfield.
address=N. 3rd and Washington Sts.
Springfield, IL 62701
line=Amtrak:
other=
platform=
parking=
bicycle=
passengers=141,936
pass_year=2007
pass_percent=28.7
opened=
rebuilt=
ADA=yes
code=SPI
owned=
zone=
services=The Springfield Amtrak station, a brick railroad depot built in 1895, 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.

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, [ Tim Landis, "Planning Mode: Transportation hub could be built for $14m-$18m", "State Journal Register", February 3, 2007 ] but this was a decrease from an earlier estimate of $50.0 million. [ [http://illinoisissues.uis.edu/features/2005oct/train.html All aboard? by Kurt Erickson - Illinois Issues ] ] 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.

ee also

Springfield Union Station

References

External links

* [http://www.texaseagle.com/stations/SPI.htm Springfield Amtrak station information]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/springfield.htm More images of Springfield Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)]