State House (train)

The State House was a passenger train operated by Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) between Chicago, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri in the United States. This service began in 1973 and continued until 2006, when it was re-branded as the Lincoln Service as part of a three-fold service expansion over that route.

State House
Southbound State House at Joliet Union Station in 1999
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleIllinois/
St. Louis, Missouri
First serviceOctober 1, 1973
Last serviceOctober 30, 2006
SuccessorLincoln Service
Former operator(s)Amtrak
Route
StartChicago, Illinois
Stops9
EndSt. Louis, Missouri
Distance travelled284 miles (457 km)
Average journey time5 hours 30 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)300, 302, 305, & 307
On-board services
Class(es)
  • Business class
  • Reserved coach
Catering facilitiesOn-board cafe
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)

History

The State House's existence is book-ended by two dramatic changes in the state of Illinois' passenger rail service. The State House made its first run on October 1, 1973, the same day that two French-built Turboliner trainsets replaced the conventional Abraham Lincoln and Prairie State on the ChicagoSt. Louis corridor. This third round-trip was intended as a ChicagoSpringfield route and received funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation. Amtrak decided to continue the train to St. Louis (at its own expense) via Carlinville and Alton because of the difficulty in turning the train in Springfield.[1]:227

Over its 33-year history the State House stopped in Joliet, Pontiac, Lincoln, Springfield, Carlinville, Alton and St. Louis. Service to Bloomington ended on June 10, 1990, when operations moved to a new station up the tracks in Normal. Service to Dwight began October 26, 1986 and Summit on October 25, 1987.[1]:236

Amtrak re-branded the State House as the Lincoln Service on October 30, 2006,[2] as it and Illinois launched two additional round-trips over the same corridor.[3]

References

  1. Sanders, Craig (2006). Amtrak in the Heartland. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34705-3.
  2. "Amtrak System Timetable: Fall 2006 - Winter 2007". timetables.org. Amtrak. 20 Oct 2006. p. 84. Retrieved 5 Oct 2015.
  3. Ericson, Kurt (27 Oct 2006). "Added Amtrak service back on track". The Southern Illinoisan. Carbondale, Illinois: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved 5 Oct 2015.


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