The Chicago to St. Louis Corridor is 284 miles long and has distinct line configuration/ownership arrangements by line section. The Canadian National (CN) portion of the corridor between Joliet and Chicago (37 miles) is already equipped with two tracks. The Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) portion of the corridor between Joliet and Godfrey (215 miles) is equipped with one track for 182 miles and double track for 33 miles. The UPRR and Kansas City Southern (KCS) portion of the corridor between Godfrey and East St. Louis (29 miles) is equipped with one track for the first 10 miles, while the remaining 19 miles is already equipped with two tracks. The Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) portion of the corridor between East St. Louis and St. Louis, MO (3 miles of double track) extends over the Mississippi River Bridge and into the St. Louis Terminal.
The existing transportation network consists of highway (automobile and bus), air, and rail (Amtrak) travel. Approximately 99 percent of the 35 million annual trips made in the Chicago to St. Louis corridor are accomplished through automobile and air travel. This project intends to establish a more balanced modal use of the transportation network by improving rail service.
The overall purpose of this project is to enhance the passenger transportation network within the Chicago to St. Louis corridor, resulting in a more balanced use of the modal components. The current Chicago to St. Louis corridor operates on only one set of track however, future visions for this corridor include the full build out of an additional second track. The full build out of an additional second track was determined in the Tier 1 Study by combining technical analysis and stakeholder input. The construction of this potential second track is not currently funded.