Changes Coming To Uptown Amtrak Station

NORMAL - Traveling from Chicago to St. Louis, and vice versa, could soon happen in a flash. Amtrak is in the midst of a $100 million high speed rail conversion, and Uptown Normal is about to see some major changes to go along with that project.

"It'll be a change for them and I can't tell you how they'll perceive that, but I think it's an attractive fence and it does have a very, important safety aspect to it, said public works director Wayne Aldrich.

Throughout the next six months, Amtrak and IDOT crews will start making changes to the track and siding to be ready for faster trains, expected to race through the area.

By the fall the south platform wont exist anymore. That's so they can move the rails eight feet over to create more separation for the trains.

"The installation of platform rails and things like that for Normal mean that we're a focal point along this corridor from Chicago to St. Louis, said Aldrich.

And even with all of the changes and repairs...Aldrich says the station and at least one of the tracks should always stay open.

"They've told us at least at this point that this particular project, there's a way not to disrupt the train traffic," said Aldrich.

And as those major upgrades are put in place, Aldrich says riders can look forward to a more efficient and comfortable trip on the rails. If all goes as scheduled, Amtrak still hopes to have the project done by 2016.

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Changes Coming To Uptown Amtrak Station