Plans for a high-speed rail route between Chicago and East St. Louis have moved forward after Illinois officials issued an update to a feasibility study into the project.
In a May update, the Illinois High-Speed Rail Commission said it was on track to publish the report by 2026—which includes a survey of over 6,000 residents in the state.
Newsweek contacted the commission via email for more information on the study’s progress.
The Context
A high-speed rail route connecting the largest city in Illinois to East St. Louis has been pitched by lawmakers for years, as it would provide huge levels of connectivity for the Midwest. The idea took a step toward reality when Illinois Governor JB Pritzker created the Illinois High Speed Rail Commission in 2021, to plan out what the route would need in order to work.
Getty Images
What To Know
The proposed route would go from Chicago to East St. Louis, a distance of around 300 miles, with trains running at a speed of 186 miles per hour.
The route currently being studied is split into three segments. The first, the Downtown Chicago area, connects to University Park and Joliet.
The middle stage of the potential route, the Chicago-Springfield Gateway, features stops at Peoria and Bloomington via Joliet, and Decatur and Champaign via University Park, before connecting all the stops to Springfield.
The final part of the route is a straight connection to East St. Louis from Springfield. Not all stops featured in the study may make it into the final design for the route, as the commission is still determining how much demand there might be for services in different parts of the state.
The commission said that it had held online meetings—which had been viewed by more than 7,500 people—and that the full verdict would be delivered to Illinois lawmakers in 2026.
According to the report update, a trip from Springfield to University Park on the proposed route would take around two and a half hours.
What People Are Saying
In a 2023 statement on the importance of high-speed rail, Governor JB Pritzker said: “Illinois is the only state where all seven of the nation’s largest railroads operate. That’s a unique economic advantage recognized by employers across the globe, helping our state attract and maintain quality jobs.
“By upgrading to higher-speed service on Illinois’ largest passenger rail line, we are solidifying our status as the transportation hub of North America. Investments like these do more than just connect cities—they allow our residents to access opportunities beyond their immediate neighborhoods, streamline regional collaborations, and open doors for new jobs and new businesses.”
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said: “This transformative endeavor, decades in the making, symbolizes our commitment to improving mobility, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable growth. From local communities to federal officials, countless individuals have contributed to its success, leaving an indelible mark on the Midwest and our nation’s rail operations.”
What Happens Next
Lawmakers are awaiting the results of the feasibility study before the next stage of planning can begin.