View source for Lincoln Service

{{Short description|Amtrak service between Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name               = ''Lincoln Service''
| logo               = 
| logo_width         = 
| image              = Lincoln Service Outbound from Chicago.jpg
| image_width        = 300px
| caption            = A ''Lincoln Service'' train in Chicago in 2023
| type               = [[Higher-speed rail]]
| status             = Operating
| locale             = [[Midwest United States]]
| predecessor        = ''[[State House (train)|State House]],'' ''[[Loop (Amtrak train)|Loop]]''
| first              = October 30, 2006
| last               = 
| successor          = 
| operator           = [[Amtrak]]
| formeroperator     = 
| ridership2         = {{Amtrak route ridership|Lincoln Service}}
| start              = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
| stops              = 9
| end                = [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]
| distance           = {{convert|284|mi|km}}
| journeytime        = 4 hours, 59 minutes<ref>{{cite web |title=Amtrak Timetable Results |url=https://www.amtrak.com/tickets/schedule-results.html |website=www.amtrak.com |access-date=July 31, 2023}}</ref><!-- Average the northbound and southbound times for the standalone Lincoln Service runs and the Chicago-St. Louis portions of the combined Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner runs -->
| frequency          = Four daily round trips
| trainnumber        = 300–302, 305–307 (CHI–STL)<br/>318–319 (CHI–KCY)<ref name="rp-timetable"/>
| class              = Coach Class<br />Business Class
| access             = 
| catering           = Café
| baggage            = Overhead racks
| stock              = [[Amfleet]]<br /> [[Horizon (railcar)|Horizon]]<br />[[Siemens Venture]]<br />[[Siemens Charger]]
| gauge              = {{Track_gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| el                 = 
| speed              = {{convert|57|mph|kph}} average <br /> {{convert|110|mph|kph}} top <ref name="Amtrak Media Center">{{cite web|url=https://media.amtrak.com/2023/05/110-mph-schedules-coming-for-amtrak-chicago-st-louis-corridor/ |title=110 mph Schedules Coming for Amtrak Chicago-St. Louis Corridor |access-date=May 3, 2023 |date=May 3, 2023 |publisher=Amtrak Media Center}}</ref>
| owners             = [[CN Railway|CN]], [[Union Pacific Railroad|UP]], [[Norfolk Southern Railway|NS]], [[Canadian Pacific Kansas City|CPKC]], [[Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis|TRRA]]
| routenumber        = 
| map                = {{switcher
|{{maplink-road|from=Lincoln Service.map}}
|Show interactive map
|{{Amtrak Lincoln Service}}
|Show route diagram map
}}
| map_state          = 
}}

The '''''Lincoln Service''''' is a {{convert|284|mile|adj=on}} [[higher-speed rail]] service operated by [[Amtrak]] that runs between [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] and [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]. The train is a part of the ''[[Illinois Service]]'' and is partially funded by the [[Illinois Department of Transportation]]. The train uses the same route as the long-distance ''[[Texas Eagle]]'', which continues to {{amtk|San Antonio}} and {{amtk|Los Angeles}}. A connection with the {{amtk|Kansas City}}-bound ''[[Missouri River Runner]]'' is available in St. Louis.

{{As of|2023|June}}, the average trip time between Chicago and St. Louis was 4 hours 59 minutes. 

During [[fiscal year]] 2023, the ''Lincoln Service'' trains carried 523,304 passengers, an increase of 9.9% from FY2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Amtrak FY23 Ridership |url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Amtrak-Fiscal-Year-2023-Ridership.pdf}}</ref> This is a 16.7% decrease from pre-COVID-19 pandemic ridership, with 627,599 passengers in FY2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amtrak FY19 Ridership |url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FY19-Year-End-Ridership.pdf |access-date=January 14, 2024}}</ref> In FY2016, the service had a total revenue of [[US dollar|$]]14,266,964, a decrease of 1.3% from FY2015.<ref name="FY16">{{cite web|date=April 7, 2017|title=Amtrak FY16 Ridership and Revenue Fact Sheet|url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Amtrak-FY16-Ridership-and-Revenue-Fact-Sheet-4_17_17-mm-edits.pdf|access-date=December 8, 2021|publisher=[[Amtrak]]}}</ref>

==History==
Prior to the ''Lincoln Service'', Amtrak had operated the daily ''[[State House (train)|State House]]'' train between Chicago and St. Louis since 1973. Originally intended to connect Chicago and [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], Amtrak extended the ''State House'' south to St. Louis at its own expense because [[Springfield station (Illinois)|Springfield station]] was not designed to turn equipment. The train used a route previously owned by the [[Alton Railroad]], which had merged with the [[Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad]] (GM&O) in 1947. The GM&O merged with the [[Illinois Central Railroad]] in 1972, a year after Amtrak took over passenger train service.

On October 30, 2006, Amtrak rebranded the ''State House'' as the ''Lincoln Service'' upon the addition of two new round trips, made possible by upgrades to the line. This resulted in a total of five daily round trips on the Chicago-St. Louis corridor, including the ''[[Texas Eagle]]'' and ''[[Ann Rutledge (train)|Ann Rutledge]]'', which terminated beyond St. Louis.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/News_Release_Popup&;c=am2Copy&cid=1093554067341|title=Governor Blagojevich Announces Amtrak Lincoln Service to Start Running October 30th|publisher=Amtrak|date=October 14, 2006|access-date=December 8, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311135742/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FNews_Release_Popup&%3Bc=am2Copy&cid=1093554067341}}</ref> Beginning in April 2007, the ''Ann Rutledge'' operated only between Kansas City and St. Louis, where it connected once daily to the Lincoln Service.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} The ''Ann Rutledge'' was folded into the ''[[Missouri River Runner]]'' in 2009, though one ''Lincoln Service'' round trip continued to connect with the ''Missouri River Runner.'' On May 23, 2022, Amtrak began [[through service|through-routing]] one round trip of the ''Missouri River Runner'' and ''Lincoln Service'', creating a second one-seat service between Kansas City and Chicago (additional to the ''[[Southwest Chief]]'', which takes a more direct route.)<ref name="rp-timetable">{{cite web |title=AMTRAK'S LINCOLN SERVICE & MISSOURI RIVER RUNNER |url=https://www.railpassengers.org/site/assets/files/20928/illinois-missouri-services.pdf |website=www.railpassengers.org/ |access-date=August 31, 2023| date=July 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cella |first1=Kim |title=MO Legislature Moves Amtrak Service Back to Twice Daily |url=https://cmt-stl.org/mo-legislature-moves-amtrak-service-back-to-twice-daily/ |website=Citizens For Modern Transit |access-date=March 15, 2023 |date=May 23, 2022}}</ref>

===Track upgrades===

In July 2010, the state of Illinois and the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] reached an agreement under which track speeds between [[Dwight, Illinois|Dwight]] and [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]], Illinois were to be raised to as high as {{convert|110|mph|km/h|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 21, 2010|title=Union Pacific, Illinois strike agreement on fast trains|url=http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=7120&r=rss|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914170050/http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=7120&r=rss|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2021|publisher=Trains Magazine}}</ref> This speed will cut the travel time between Chicago and St. Louis by 90 minutes, bringing the trip to under four hours.<ref name=110mph/> The first track upgrade construction was planned to be between Alton and [[Lincoln, Illinois]] and was projected to cost $98 million. The construction on this stretch began on September 17, 2010, in Alton and was completed in 2011. Most of the funding came from $1.1 billion in stimulus money for Illinois high-speed rail from the  [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]. The remainder of this grant, as well as $400 million in funding from the state of Illinois, was used to complete a high-speed rail corridor for the remaining portions of the St. Louis–Chicago track. Senator [[Dick Durbin]] suggested the Dwight–Alton upgrades would create some 900 jobs, while the overall project could generate 24,000.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

On March 22, 2011, an announcement was made in Chicago that an additional $685 million would be used to upgrade trackage and grade crossings between Dwight and Lincoln. Construction on the improvement project began on April 5, 2011.<ref name="Bloomington Pantagraph">{{cite web|url=http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_0f8ed1c6-54d9-11e0-9df0-001cc4c002e0.html |title=Second phase of high-speed rail expected to begin April 5 |access-date=March 24, 2011 |date=March 22, 2011 |publisher=Bloomington Pantagraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101335/http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_0f8ed1c6-54d9-11e0-9df0-001cc4c002e0.html |archive-date=December 24, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Upgrades included rebuilding the [[passing siding]]s so that the [[track spacing]] between the main track is increased from {{cvt|14|ft}} to {{cvt|20|ft}}.<ref name="Trains201702">{{cite magazine |issn=0041-0934 |magazine=[[Trains magazine]] |title=Choppy path to more speed: Work on Chicago-St. Louis 'Lincoln Service' route shows successes, challenges |id={{Gale|A474547827}} |first=Bob |last=Johnston |publication-date=February 2017 |volume=77 |number=2 |page=24}}</ref>

Although much of track upgrade work was completed between 2010 and 2012, there are additional constructions including second trackage, bridge replacement and rehabilitation, drainage improvements, and [[Four-quadrant gate|grade crossings]] and signal improvements before the full {{convert|110|mph|adj=on|0}} service can be fully operated on this route. After all required improvements on the first {{convert|15|mi|adj=on|0}} segment between Dwight and [[Pontiac, Illinois]] were completed, Amtrak started the [[higher-speed rail]] service with top speeds of {{convert|110|mph|0}} on that segment in November 2012, with the entire section between Alton and Joliet expected to have {{convert|110|mph|adj=on|0}} operation by 2017.<ref name="110mph">{{cite news|date=November 23, 2012|title=110 mph train service starts on part of Chicago-St. Louis route|newspaper=Crain's Chicago Business|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20121123/NEWS10/121129929/110-mph-train-service-starts-on-part-of-chicago-st-louis-route|url-access=subscription|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref><ref name="construction">{{cite web|title=Construction Location|url=http://www.idothsr.org/2010_const/location.aspx|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=Illinois High Speed Rail|publisher=Illinois Department of Transportation}}</ref> 

Starting on July 7, 2021, ''Lincoln Service'' and ''Texas Eagle'' trains were allowed a top speed of {{convert|90|mph}} after Federal Railroad Administration dual certification of the [[Incremental Train Control System]] and Interoperable Electronic Train Management System between south of [[Joliet Union Station]] and Alton, Illinois.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Maximum speeds increase to 90 mph on Amtrak's Chicago-St. Louis corridor|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/maximum-speeds-increase-to-90-mph-on-amtraks-chicago-st-louis-corridor/|access-date=July 12, 2021|website=Trains|date=July 9, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> On December 13, 2021, scheduled travel times were reduced by approximately 15 minutes between St. Louis and Chicago as a result of the increased speeds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle Schedule Changes Due to Speed Increase |url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/lincoln-service-texas-eagle-schedule-change.html |publisher=Amtrak |date=December 13, 2021}}</ref> Amtrak began testing the line for {{Cvt|110|mph|4=0}} revenue service in 2022.  Effective May 3, 2023, trains are authorized to travel up to {{Cvt|110|mph|4=0}} on the line, while new schedules are written for the line.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magliari |first=Marc |date=May 3, 2023 |title=110 mph Schedules Coming for Amtrak Chicago-St. Louis Corridor |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2023/05/110-mph-schedules-coming-for-amtrak-chicago-st-louis-corridor/ |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=Amtrak Media |language=en-US}}</ref> The new schedules debuted on June 26, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/illinois-increased-speeds-shorten-schedules-chicago-st-louis.html|title=Illinois Increased Speeds Shorten Schedules Chicago to St. Louis|date=June 26, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|publisher=Amtrak|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20230626/a-powerhouse-route-amtrak-unleashes-110-mph-trains-on-chicago-to-st-louis-route|title='A powerhouse route': Amtrak unleashes 110 mph trains on Chicago-to-St. Louis route|first=Marni|last=Pyke|work=[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois)|Daily Herald]]|publication-place=[[Arlington Heights, Illinois|Arlington Heights, Ill.]]|orig-date=Original date June 26, 2023|date=June 27, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|language=en-US}}</ref>

The slowest portion of the corridor is the segment between Chicago and Joliet, but improving this would require an additional $1.5&nbsp;billion investment.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hilkevitch|first=Jon|date=February 24, 2014|title=Improving portion of high-speed rail corridor could cost $1.5 billion|work=Chicago Tribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/02/24/improving-portion-of-high-speed-rail-corridor-could-cost-15-billion/|url-status=live|access-date=December 8, 2021|archive-date=February 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215010003/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-02-24/news/chi-high-speed-rail-chicago-joliet-st-louis-20140224_1_rail-corridor-amtrak-service-amtrak-trains}}</ref> Two projects proposed from the [[Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program]] (CREATE) would remove two [[diamond crossing]]s and construct an [[overpass]] to increase train speed and eliminate delays. One project is in the preliminary design phase while the proposed flyover at [[Brighton Park crossing]] is unfunded.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 2015|title=P5 Brighton Park Flyover|url=http://www.createprogram.org/factsheets/P5.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=December 8, 2021|publisher=CREATE|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118003019/http://www.createprogram.org/factsheets/P5.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=September 2016|title=P6 CP Canal Flyover|url=http://www.createprogram.org/factsheets/P6.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=December 8, 2021|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118003533/http://www.createprogram.org/factsheets/P6.pdf}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, an alternative solution rerouting trains via the [[Rock Island District]], which bypasses these diamond crossings and has relatively few freight trains, is being considered. This option would reduce delays and allow higher speeds between Joliet and Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hsrail.org/chicago-hub-improvement-project|title=A New Approach to Chicago|access-date=November 22, 2022|website=High Speed Rail Alliance}}</ref>

==Operation==
===Equipment===
[[File:Illinois Zephyr and Lincoln Service trains at Chicago Union Station, December 2018.JPG|thumb|''[[Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg|Illinois Zephyr]]'' (left) and ''Lincoln Service'' trains at Chicago Union Station in 2018]]
A ''Lincoln Service'' train consists of the following:<ref>{{cite web|title=LINCOLN SERVICE|url=http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/lincolnservice.htm|access-date=December 8, 2021|publisher=TrainWeb}}</ref>
*One or two [[Siemens SC-44]] locomotives
*Three to seven [[Amfleet]], [[Horizon (railcar)|Horizon]], or [[Siemens Venture|Venture]] coaches 
*One Amfleet or Horizon cafe/business car
{{clear left}}

===Route===
[[File:Lincoln Service map.svg|thumb|right|Geographic map of route]]
The [[Metra]] ''[[Heritage Corridor]]'' commuter line uses the same route from Joliet to Union Station.

One daily ''Lincoln Service'' round trip (train 318/319) is coupled with the ''[[Missouri River Runner]]'' at St. Louis, providing a one-seat ride between Chicago and Kansas City. Additionally, one southbound ''Lincoln Service'' (train 301) runs express to St. Louis with stops only at Joliet, Bloomington-Normal, Springfield, and Alton.<ref name="rp-timetable"/>

===Stations===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!State
!Town/City
!Station
!Connections
|-
|rowspan=10|[[Illinois]]||[[Chicago]]||[[Chicago Union Station|Chicago<br/>Union Station]]||{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]] (long-distance): ''[[California Zephyr]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Cardinal}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|City of New Orleans}}, ''[[Empire Builder]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, ''[[Lake Shore Limited]]'', ''[[Southwest Chief]]'', ''[[Texas Eagle]]''<br>{{rint|us|Amtrak}} Amtrak (intercity): {{lnl|Amtrak|Blue Water}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Borealis}}, ''[[Hiawatha (Amtrak train)|Hiawatha]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Illini and Saluki}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Pere Marquette}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Wolverine}}<br/>{{rint|chicago|metra}} [[Metra]]: {{rcb|Metra|bnsf|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|mdn|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|mdw|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|nc|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|hc|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|sw|inline=square}}<br>{{rint|chicago|l}} [[Chicago "L"]]: {{rcb|CTA|Blue|inline=route}} <small>(at {{cta|Clinton|Blue}})</small>, {{rcb|CTA|Brown|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Orange|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Pink|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Purple|inline=route}} <small>(at {{cta|Quincy}})</small><br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[List of Chicago Transit Authority bus routes|CTA Bus]]: 1, 7, J14, 19, 28, 56, 60, 120, 121, 124, 125, 126, 128, 130, 151, 156, 157, 192<br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[Pace (transit)|Pace Bus]]: 755 Plainfield–IMD–West Loop Express<br/>{{rint|us|amtrakbus}} [[Amtrak Thruway]], {{rint|us|megabus}} [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]], {{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]], [[Peoria Charter]]
|-*()
|[[Summit, Illinois|Summit]]||{{stl|Amtrak|Summit}}||{{rint|chicago|metra}} Metra: {{rcb|Metra|hc|inline=square}}<br>{{rint|bus|1}} Pace Bus: 330
|-
|[[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]]||[[Joliet Gateway Center|Joliet<br/>Transportation<br/>Center]]||{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}}<br>{{rint|chicago|metra}} Metra: {{rcb|Metra|hc|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|ri|inline=square}}<br>{{rint|bus|1}} Pace Bus: 501, 504, 505, 507, 508, 509, 511, 832, 834
|-
|[[Dwight, Illinois|Dwight]]||{{stl|Amtrak|Dwight}}||
|-
|[[Pontiac, Illinois|Pontiac]]||{{stl|Amtrak|Pontiac|Illinois}}||{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}}
|-
|[[Normal, Illinois|Normal]]||{{stl|Amtrak|Bloomington-Normal}}||{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}}<br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[Connect Transit]]: Green, Red/Exp, Lime, Brown, Tan, Pink, Yellow, Redbird Express, Sapphire<br>{{rint|bus}} [[Burlington Trailways]], {{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]], [[Peoria Charter]]
|-
|[[Lincoln, Illinois|Lincoln]]||{{stl|Amtrak|Lincoln|Illinois}}||{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}}
|-
|[[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]||{{stl|Amtrak|Springfield|Lincoln Service}}||{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}}<br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[Sangamon Mass Transit District|SMTD]]: 4, 7, 12, 903
|-
|[[Carlinville, Illinois|Carlinville]]||{{stl|Amtrak|Carlinville}}||{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}}
|-
|[[Alton, Illinois|Alton]]||{{stl|Amtrak|Alton}}||{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}}<br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[Madison County Transit]]: Route 11
|-
||[[Missouri]]||[[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]]||[[Gateway Transportation Center|Gateway<br/>Transportation<br/>Center]]||{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Missouri River Runner}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}}<br>{{rint|stlouis}} [[MetroLink (St. Louis)|MetroLink]]: {{rcb|MetroLink (St. Louis)|Red|inline=route}} {{rcb|MetroLink (St. Louis)|Blue|inline=route}} <small>(at {{stl|MetroLink (St. Louis)|Civic Center}})</small><br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[MetroBus (St. Louis)|MetroBus]]: 4, 8, 10, 11, 32, 74, 80, 94, 99, 36X, 40X, 58X, 410X, 174X<br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[Madison County Transit]]: 1X, 3X, 12X, 14X, 16X, 18X <br> {{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]], {{rint|bus}} [[Burlington Trailways]], {{rint|us|megabus}} [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]], {{rint|us|amtrakbus}} [[Amtrak Thruway]]
|}

== See also ==
{{Commons category}}
*''[[Loop (Amtrak train)|Loop]]''

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==External links==
*{{amtrak web|route=yes}}

{{Amtrak routes}}
{{Higher speed rail}}

[[Category:Amtrak routes]]
[[Category:Higher-speed rail]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Illinois]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Missouri]]