Durbin sent a letter earlier this week admonishing Amtrak for providing inadequate substitute service as the Quincy-Chicago route was partly suspended
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded Amtrak for taking action to restore service after one of two Amtrak roundtrips between Quincy, Illinois, and Chicago was suspended as a result of equipment shortages. Shortly after Amtrak announced it would offer inadequate, slower bus service between the two cities, Durbin sent a letter to Amtrak admonishing the insufficient solution and the suspension of service.
Amtrak heeded Durbin’s call, announcing that Amtrak will borrow locomotives from within its network to fully restore Quincy-Chicago service by this Saturday. Until then, Amtrak will provide two buses in each direction, including an express bus as urged by Durbin. The affected stops along the partly suspended Chicago-Quincy Carl Sandberg Amtrak route include Macomb, Galesburg, Kewanee, Princeton, Mendota, Plano, Naperville, and La Grange, Illinois.
“While ensuring that locomotives can receive proper, routine maintenance is essential, Amtrak should always be prepared to offer adequate substitute service to riders who rely on the Carl Sandberg Amtrak route,” said Durbin. “I’m relieved that Amtrak answered my call and is swiftly correcting the interruption to Quincy-Chicago service.”
A copy of Durbin’s letter to Amtrak on this issue is available here.
***Courtesy of Senator Durbin***
