Future
The state government of Illinois announced, on October 28, 2010, long-term plans to replace Joliet Union Station and partly rebuild the tracks. Separate tracks, dedicated solely to freight traffic, will be laid for BNSF container stacktrains. Rail passengers will be rerouted into a new multimodal train and bus station. The $42 million project is scheduled to be completed in 2013. As planned, the existing Union Station building will remain, but a new terminal would be built beside it. New underground tunnels would provide Metra access to the Heritage Corridor Line trains, eliminating the need to cross the BNSF freight tracks. The project will also include a new 500-car parking garage. The project is funded by a $32 million grant from the state.
Currently Metra controls the interlocking tower at the junction of the Rock Island and BNSF tracks. As a result, Metra makes freight trains stop in order to give Metra passenger trains priority. Under the grant, control of the interlock would be shifted to the BNSF and Union Pacific and the tower building itself will be demolished. The Metra Rock Island passenger platform would be moved across the diamond to the east side of the BNSF tracks to avoid conflict with the flow of freight trains.
Read more about this topic: Joliet Union Station
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