Status Discontinued End Dubuque, Iowa Average journey time 4 hours 10 minutes Last service 30 September 1981 First service 14 February 1974 Service type Inter-city rail Locale Illinois, Iowa | Start Chicago, Illinois Distance travelled 182 miles (293 km) Service frequency Daily Predecessor Land O'Corn Former operator Amtrak Stops 6 | |
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The Black Hawk is a planned Amtrak intercity rail route which will ultimately run from Chicago, Illinois, to Dubuque, Iowa via Rockford, Illinois. Service from Chicago to Rockford was expected to begin in 2015, but the start of the service was put on hold by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. Service to Dubuque was to open at a later date. Once train service begins, the new service will operate under the Illinois Service umbrella.
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Amtrak previously operated the Black Hawk from 1974 to 1981 Illinois Central route, now the Canadian National's Chicago Central/Iowa Zone. From 2010 to 2014 plans called for the restored route to follow the same corridor; however, the state government could not come to an agreement with the railroad. Instead, the route will follow Metra trackage from Union Station to Big Timber Road, then the Union Pacific Railroad to Rockford.
Previous operation
Prior to Amtrak, the Illinois Central Railroad operated the Land O'Corn between Chicago and Waterloo, Iowa, discontinuing it in 1967. The first Black Hawk began running on February 14, 1974, using Budd Company rail diesel cars (RDCs). Conventional diesel locomotives and coaches replaced the RDCs after February 2, 1976. Equipment varied, including ex-Chicago & North Western gallery cars, dome cars, boat-tailed observation cars, full diners, lunch counter diners and ex-ATSF Hi-Level Coaches. Further, power for the Black Hawk also varied on a regular basis with GE P30CHs, EMD SDP40Fs, EMD F40PHs and the occasional Illinois Central Gulf "Geep" filling in for ailing power (an ICG EMD GP10 towed the last RDC consist into Chicago in 1976). Amfleet coaches arrived in November 1976. Service ended on September 30, 1981, after Illinois reduced its appropriations for passenger service.
Several Rockford based groups sponsored special charter trips to Chicago events such as Bears, Cubs and Sox games as well as performances of "The Ice Capades" on the Black Hawk. On these trips, the consists could swell to as many as seven to 10 cars. During the RDC days, the usual consist consisted of three RDCs. During the mid-to-late 1970s the consist usually included 3 cars, including a food service car of one type or another. During a good part of the summer of 1977, the Black Hawk ran with a full dining car and dome coaches.
The route used the former Illinois Central Railroad route (then part of the Illinois Central Gulf) between Chicago's Union Station and Bridgeport and the Freeport Subdivision west of Bridgeport.
Restoration
In 2007 Amtrak, at the state of Illinois' request, conducted a feasibility study to reinstate the Black Hawk route to Rockford and Dubuque. Initial capital costs ranged from $32 million to $55 million, depending on the route. Once in operation, the service would require roughly $5 million a year in subsidies from the state. On December 10, 2010, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced the route choice for the resumption of service to begin in 2014 going over mostly Chicago Central railway owned by Canadian National.This line will be the only Amtrak Illinois Service route that will not be on track used by Metra. IDOT confirmed the return of the "Black Hawk" name in 2012. The equipment to be used on the route will be built by Nippon Sharyo at a new plant in Rochelle, Illinois, which is located just 24 miles south of a portion of the proposed route.
New proposal
On April 10, 2014, a new plan for Amtrak service that would terminate in Rockford was released due to the inability for IDOT to negotiate a deal with the Canadian National Railway, who owns the tracks the old proposal was going to use. IDOT will continue to work with the CN to eventually get the route extended to its planned terminus of Dubuque, IA. The new proposal is going to use a route through downtown Elgin, Huntley, and Belvidere before terminating in Rockford.
Plans on hold
On February 9, 2015, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner announced that the plans for the route would be put on hold until further notice, as the state did not have sufficient funds to continue the project. $3 million had been spent out of the $223 million plan. Huntley, IL had spent over $50,000 to build a station platform.