September 26, 2008

Members of the Illinois congressional delegation sent a letter Wednesday to the three major owners of rail systems used by Amtrak in Illinois asking that the companies outline plans to help the carrier improve on-time performance. The letter, released by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's office, pointed out the on-time performance was just 44 percent this summer on the Illinois routes. The letter also noted ridership is up 27 months in a row through July, as more people take the trains to avoid high gasoline prices. "These delays not only continually make passengers late and frustrated, they cost Amtrak money," Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, said in a separate statement. The letter was addressed to chief executives of the BNSF, Canadian National and Union Pacific railroads. The inspector general's office of the U.S. Department of Transportation estimated earlier this year that an on-time performance of 85 percent would increase revenues by $136.6 million. The letter asks that the companies share their plans for improving on-time performance and for capital improvements to the rail lines.