Loop (Amtrak train)
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city rail | ||||
| Status | Discontinued | ||||
| Locale | Illinois | ||||
| First service | April 27, 1986 | ||||
| Last service | June 28, 1996 | ||||
| Former operator(s) | Amtrak | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Chicago Springfield | ||||
| Stops | 6 | ||||
| Distance travelled | 185 miles (298 km) | ||||
| Average journey time | 3 hours and 30 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | Custom class and unreserved coach | ||||
| Catering facilities | On-board cafe | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | Amfleet/Horizon | ||||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||||
| |||||
The Loop was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago and Springfield, Illinois. The Loop began on April 27, 1986, with funding support from the state of Illinois. The train acted as a counterpart to the State House, departing Chicago in the morning and returning in the afternoon. Funding shortfalls eliminated Saturday service in mid-1995, and the train ended altogether on June 28, 1996, after Illinois withdrew its support.[1]: 229–233
The Loop originally operated with refurbished bilevel cars from the Chicago & North Western Railway, but by 1987 Amtrak substituted Amfleet coaches, later supplemented by Horizon Fleet coaches.[1]: 235–236
References
- ^ a b Sanders, Craig (2006). Amtrak in the Heartland. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34705-3.