I’ve been too busy in Texas to read Illinois’ application for high-speed rail (110-mph) between Chicago and St. Louis (52 MB PDF). But I understand it proposes to spend $4.6 billion (up from an original estimate of about $500 million) to increase average speeds on this route from 51.6 mph to 56.8 mph.
The plan also proposes to increase frequencies from three to eight trains per day each way. However, it projects that this 166 percent increase in service will produce just a 26 percent increase in ridership. That’s not real encouraging.
