Midwest High Speed Rail Network Overview (Archival Page)

Summary

The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative is an effort by nine Midwestern states and Amtrak to study and develop a high speed rail network linking major Midwestern cities. They commissioned Transportation Economics and Management Systems, Inc. to conduct a feasibility study for this network. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) was the lead public agency for the study.

The study - completed in 1998 - recommended the construction of a seven spoke Midwest network with downtown Chicago as its hub. Every spoke in the system would turn an operating profit by the year 2010 assuming the projected construction schedule was met. However, initial capital costs would require government funding. This includes $3 billion for track, signal and station infrastructre, and $470 million for rolling stock. The projected funding split is 80% federal, 20% state. Feeder bus service from smaller cities not on the network (and larger cities not on the network such as Louisville) is also proposed. This is projected to require a 50% operating subsidy.

The network map shows the routes and major destinations.

The Executive Summary (700K PDF) and Final Report (3.1 MB PDF) are available online from WisDOT. These are PDF files which require a browser plug in to use. Adobe distributes a no cost plugin via the Internet.

Key Facts

Participating States: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouria, Iowa, and Nebraska. Amtrak and the FRA are also participants. Kentucky was not a participant.

Operating Speed: 79-110 MPH (a 125+ MPH option was rejected as not being cost effective).

Equipment: DMU's (diesel multiple units). These are train sets powered by small diesel engines directly attached to passenger cars instead of by a separate locomotive. When this is combined with aluminum construction, the result is a train set that is about half the weight of a conventional train. This leads to higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions. The equipment used for the purposes of the study was the Danish IC3 Flexliner, though other equipment could actually be purchased..

Protected Total Annual Ridership in 2010: 7.8 million

Projected Total Annual Passenger Revenue in 2010: $416 million

Overall Operating Cost Ratio: $1.36

Cost of Chicago Hub Terminal Upgrades: $300-400 million

Route Summary

Route Time Freq* Fare** Ridership*** Revenue+ Miles Cost++ Oper Ratio+++ Other Info

Chicago Indianapolis Cincinnati 4:09 5 $100 812,378 $43 304 $276 $1.74 A route to Louisville would connect with this route at Indianapolis. Unfortunately, Indianapolis-Chicago data is not broken out separately.
Chicago Cleveland 3:46 8 $105 776,723 $44 343 $521 $1.19 This route requires a new dedicated passenger track to be constructed parallel to the freight route.

Chicago Detroit 3:41 10 $66 2,161,626 $89 305 $371 $1.31 Includes spurs to Pontiac, Port Huron, and Grand Rapids-Holland. All of the spur destinations are smaller than Louisville.

Chicago Milwaukee Minneapolis 5:42 (1:05 Mil) 6 (14 Mil) $100 ($35 Mil) 2,450,413 $98 433 $734 $1.59 Route also serves Madison. There is a long spur north to Green Bay.

Chicago Omaha 7:11 4 $120 991,598 $44 479 $358 $1.07 Also serves the Quad Cities and Des Moines. There is a long spur to Quincy, Illinois.

Chicago St. Louis 3:42 10 $76 1,315,168 $61 281 $200 $1.67

St. Louis Kansas City 4:10 4 $75 441,316 $16 382 $342 $1.05 Also serves Jefferson City

Chicago Carbondale 3:46 6 N/A 588,981 $18 309 $224 $1.20 There are no major cities along this route, which is an existing Amtrak route subsidized by the state of Illinois.

* Number of round trips per day.
** One way full fare. Other fare plans and discounts would also be used.
*** Ridership includes passengers on all spur routes.
+ In millions. Includes revenue on all spur routes.
++ In millions. Includes all spur routes. Excludes rolling stock.
+++ Revenue divided by operating cost.

Just Say No to Frames, Ads, and Animated GIF's

Route	Time	Freq*	Fare**	Ridership***	Revenue+	Miles	Cost++	Oper Ratio+++	Other Info
Chicago Indianapolis Cincinnati	4:09	5	$100	812,378	$43	304	$276	$1.74	A route to Louisville would connect with this route at Indianapolis. Unfortunately, Indianapolis-Chicago data is not broken out separately.
Chicago Cleveland	3:46	8	$105	776,723	$44	343	$521	$1.19	This route requires a new dedicated passenger track to be constructed parallel to the freight route.
Chicago Detroit	3:41	10	$66	2,161,626	$89	305	$371	$1.31	Includes spurs to Pontiac, Port Huron, and Grand Rapids-Holland. All of the spur destinations are smaller than Louisville.
Chicago Milwaukee Minneapolis	5:42 (1:05 Mil)	6 (14 Mil)	$100 ($35 Mil)	2,450,413	$98	433	$734	$1.59	Route also serves Madison. There is a long spur north to Green Bay.
Chicago Omaha	7:11	4	$120	991,598	$44	479	$358	$1.07	Also serves the Quad Cities and Des Moines. There is a long spur to Quincy, Illinois.
Chicago St. Louis	3:42	10	$76	1,315,168	$61	281	$200	$1.67
St. Louis Kansas City	4:10	4	$75	441,316	$16	382	$342	$1.05	Also serves Jefferson City
Chicago Carbondale	3:46	6	N/A	588,981	$18	309	$224	$1.20	There are no major cities along this route, which is an existing Amtrak route subsidized by the state of Illinois.