Did You Know Rockford Had a Chicago Train Route?

Did you know that from 1974 to 1981, Amtrak operated the Black Hawk, a line connecting Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa, which included stops in Rockford and Galena?

How Rockford’s Black Hawk Route Worked

For seven amazing years, folks in the area could hop on a train downtown and ride straight into Union Station. Of course, funding eventually led to the line's demise, and Rockford's rail link to the Windy City was discontinued.

Trains.com says:

It operated at first with Budd Rail Diesel Cars and later was converted to conventional locomotive-hauled trains. The train provided the only Amtrak service to Elmhurst, Rockford, Freeport, and Galena, Ill. It was discontinued on Sept. 30, 1981.

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Why the Line Ended in 1981

Since the Black Hawk stopped running, Rockford remains one of America's largest cities without passenger train service. For over 40 years, the only way to get to Chicago has been by car, bus, or a convoluted patchwork of Metra connections in the not-so-easy-to-reach suburbs.

How Today’s Plans Compare to the Black Hawk

Now, Illinois and IDOT aim to revive the rail service, and while the Rockford-Chicago line will operate at 79 mph with stops in Belvidere, Huntley, and Elgin, it's not high-speed rail; however, it represents the first effort in decades to provide Rockfordians with an alternative to I-90.

What a Return Could Mean for Rockford

All systems are still set to proceed as the project continues to take shape, with construction scheduled for 2026. I know I'm not the only one excited to see the future of Rockford with a line coming through.