Loop (Amtrak train)

The Loop was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago and Springfield, Illinois. The Loop began on April 27, 1986, with funding support from the state of Illinois. The train acted as a counterpart to the State House, departing Chicago in the morning and returning in the afternoon. Funding shortfalls eliminated Saturday service in mid-1995, and the train ended altogether on June 28, 1996, after Illinois withdrew its support.^{[1]: 229–233}

Loop

The Loop at Joliet Union Station in August 1989
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	Discontinued
Locale	Illinois
First service	April 27, 1986
Last service	June 28, 1996
Successor	Lincoln Service
Former operator(s)	Amtrak
Route
Termini	Chicago Springfield
Stops	6
Distance travelled	185 miles (298 km)
Average journey time	3 hours and 30 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	311, 312
On-board services
Class(es)	Custom class and unreserved coach
Catering facilities	On-board cafe
Technical
Rolling stock	Amfleet/Horizon
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map v t e Legend Dist. Station 0  Chicago 12 mi 19 km Summit 37 mi 60 km Joliet 74 mi 119 km Dwight 92 mi 148 km Pontiac 124 mi 200 km Normal 156 mi 251 km Lincoln 185 mi 298 km Springfield

The Loop originally operated with refurbished bilevel cars from the Chicago & North Western Railway, but by 1987 Amtrak substituted Amfleet coaches, later supplemented by Horizon Fleet coaches.^{[1]: 235–236}

In 2006 Amtrak restored and exceeded the service level that had been provided by the Loop by adding two new round trips to the State House, which was rebranded as the Lincoln Service.