Durbin Discusses Amtrak Services With IDOT Secretary
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Gia Biagi to discuss the recent disruptions to Amtrak service in Illinois. Between July and September, Amtrak suspended train service along select Illinois routes for maintenance. While Amtrak offered alternative bus service for riders during the suspension, the bus service may add significant time to riders’ commutes.
During this service disruption, Durbin wrote to Roger Harris, President of Amtrak, expressing his frustration that riders were not given proper notice of the cancelled trains and urging Amtrak to better coordinate with IDOT to ensure fewer service disruptions.
“Illinoisans rely on Amtrak to get to work and school, visit their loved ones, travel across the state, and beyond. To ensure that train service is dependable, Amtrak must closely coordinate with IDOT,” said Durbin. “Today, I spoke with IDOT Secretary Biagi about how all partners can keep Illinois’ trains on track.”
-30-