Amtrak, Illinois reach deal to maintain instate service

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation say they have reached an agreement to maintain existing service on state-supported routes while reducing costs.

The deal announced Friday will maintain service through the end of the fiscal year on June 30 at a cost of $38.3 million to the state. The department paid $42 million the previous fiscal year.

According to the department and Amtrak, the state used credits for previous equipment upgrades it paid for to negotiate a lower cost.

The state supports four daily round trips between Chicago and St. Louis plus two between Chicago and Quincy and two Chicago and Carbondale. Illinois and Wisconsin split the cost of the seven daily round trips between Chicago and Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation covers 75 percent of the cost.