Editing Chicago Hub Network (section)

===Chicago-St. Louis rail line upgrades===
Before the upgrades, [[Amtrak]] passenger trains had a top speed of 79 MPH on the line between [[Chicago]] and [[St. Louis]], and freight trains had a top speed of 60 MPH.<ref name="Crossing"/> In the fall of 2012, the section of the Chicago-St. Louis line between [[Pontiac, Illinois]], and [[Dwight, Illinois]], began Amtrak service at 110 MPH, as a demonstration section.<ref name="Crossing">{{cite news | last1=Landis | first1=Tim | title=Crossing Technology a Sign of Faster Trains to Come | url=http://www.sj-r.com/news/20160716/crossing-technology-sign-of-faster-trains-to-come | date=July 16, 2016 | newspaper=[[The State Journal-Register]] | access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> In 2014 construction began to upgrade the entire rail line between [[Carlinville, Illinois]], and [[Joliet, Illinois]], so that Amtrak could run its passenger trains at 110 MPH.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Landis | first1=Tim | title=Final Downstate Construction Begins for 110-mph Trains | url=http://www.sj-r.com/article/20140531/NEWS/140539907 | date=May 31, 2014 | newspaper=[[The State Journal-Register]] | access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> In addition, freight trains will be able to operate at 70 MPH.<ref name="Crossing"/>

The entire cost of the high-speed rail program was estimated at $1.8 billion, with the [[United States Federal Government|federal government]] committing $1.6&nbsp;billion of that,<ref>{{cite news | last1=Landis | first1=Tim | title=Speed Control Technology Part of 110 mph Amtrak Service | url=http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150524/NEWS/150529683 | date=May 24, 2015 | newspaper=[[The State Journal-Register]] | access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> later lowered to $1.4&nbsp;billion.<ref name="$1.2billion"/> It is estimated that $1.2&nbsp;billion will be spent on the program by the end of 2016.<ref name="$1.2billion">{{cite news | last1=Landis | first1=Tim | title=Rail Spending Projected to Hit $1.2 Billion Mark | url=http://www.sj-r.com/article/20160430/NEWS/160439988 | date=April 30, 2016 | newspaper=[[The State Journal-Register]] | access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref>

On December 20, 2021, Amtrak train speeds were upgraded to {{Convert|90|mph|kph}} between Chicago and St Louis. This reduced travel time by 15 minutes between the two cities. Final approval for {{cvt|110|mph|adj=on}} speeds was granted in May 2023, and [[higher-speed rail]] service began on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, saving passengers an additional 45 minutes in travel time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Amtrak now offering faster trains between Chicago, St. Louis|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/5/3/23709658/amtrak-high-speed-trains-between-chicago-st-louis|date=May 3, 2023|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=May 4, 2023}}</ref>