Full restoration of state-supported Amtrak routes in Illinois set for July 19
The state of Illinois announced plans to restore all service on its four state-supported Amtrak lines as of July 19 as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan. The restoration of full schedules on the Chicago-Quincy, Chicago-Carbondale, and Chicago-St. Louis routes in July will follow the previously announced return of full service on the Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha route, scheduled to resume May 23 [see “Some states begin restoring Amtrak corridor frequencies …,” Trains News Wire, March 24, 2021]. A press release says tickets will be available for the restored service this week on the Amtrak website.
Pacific Surfliner offering Los Angeles-Las Vegas bus connection
Los Angeles-Las Vegas Amtrak service is returning — but by bus, rather than rail. California’s Pacific Surfliner has launched two daily Amtrak Thruway bus round trips between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Nev., with intermediate stops in San Bernardino, Victorville, and Barstow, as well as two stops in Las Vegas. The bus tickets can be bought without a train segment, but offer guaranteed connection to Surfliner trains. Information including schedules is available here.
Nebraska legislature passes bill supporting rail parks
The Nebraska legislature has unanimously passed a bill authorizing state matching funds for rail industrial parks in Nebraska, sending the bill to Gov. Pete Ricketts for his signature. The North Platte Telegraph reports the bill will boost efforts to create a 118-acre rail park in Hershey, Neb., just west of North Platte. Gary Person, CEO of the North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corp., which has purchase options on the rail park site, acknowledged state Sen. Mike Groene’s work in obtaining the 49-0 vote: “He obviously built a large network of senators across the state to support this. …Now it’s up to us to perform. We’re looking forward to making our (state) application at the appropriate time.”
