In early July, Gov. J.B. Pritzker stood on the banks of the Rock River with a Metra train on the bridge above to make a very special announcement. For the first time in 40 years, passenger rail service would once again be available between Rockford and Chicago.
“This is a major step for Metra to expand outside our six-county service area, but it is something we are well-prepared to do,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “We have ample experience connecting Chicago region residents to work and recreational opportunities through reliable, safe, and exceptional rail service and are excited to have the opportunity to serve the residents of Rockford, Huntley and Belvidere.”
Metra was selected by IDOT to partner with them and operate the service, which will initially provide two daily roundtrips between Rockford and Chicago with stops in Huntley and Belvidere. The route will use Metra’s Milwaukee District West Line to Elgin and tracks owned by Union Pacific Railroad between Elgin and Rockford. Operations are planned to start by the end of 2027. The project is funded through $275 million from Gov. Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program.
Before service can begin, upgrades are needed along the Union Pacific tracks to make them safe for passenger service, including improvements to signal systems and road crossings. Track conditions on the UP portion of the line will also need to be upgraded to enable the speeds required for passenger service. Sidings to allow trains to operate past each other and a flyover to connect the Milwaukee District West Line to the UP tracks at Elgin will be part of the improvements as well as new stations serving Huntley and Belvidere.
Travel time between the two cities is expected to be less than two hours, with two round trips per day planned. Boarding locations in Chicago and Rockford, as well as a fare structure and schedule, are still to be determined. If you are interested in learning more, an overview of the project can be found here.