Southern Illinoisan - Durbin Blames Canadian National for Amtrak Delays

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By Chris Hottensen

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, addressed at the Amtrak station in Carbondale the continued delays on the Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale line.

Durbin referred to the line as the worst performing state-supported train in the country, saying the priority given to freight train interference along lines operated by Canadian National has caused Amtrak trains on the Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale route to be delayed more than half the time.

"The Illini and Saluki trains are consistently delayed by freight trains, resulting in trains arriving on-time only 49 percent of the time this year," Durbin said in a release. "The 392 train from Carbondale to Chicago is arriving on-time only 34 percent of the time. These poor performance numbers risk us wasting the investments we have made."

Increased Amtrak ridership and progress made from investments of almost $2 billion in federal funds for passenger rail infrastructure in Illinois are threatened by the delays, Durbin said.

Last month, Durbin has called on the Surface Transportation Board to investigate the causes of Amtrak delays and enforce on-time performance standards.

Amtrak is undertaking a study to increase the number of trains along the Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale line, following a letter Durbin wrote to Joseph Boardman, Amtrak president and CEO, and Anthony Coscia, board chairman, asking for the study.

Amtrak and Canadian National have attempted mediation conducted by the STB, but the line's on-time performance has not improved.

"Canadian National has a long history of holding up Amtrak trains and holding back investments that could improve passenger and freight service in downstate Illinois," Durbin said. "We are here today to encourage Canadian National to step up and make the changes necessary to improve Amtrak service on this line."

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