Quote:
Originally Posted by SIGSEGV
I imagine there might be some bidirectional demand for NIU if the Metra extension existed, but maybe not enough to justify it. It's really more of an intercity type rail than a commuter rail so It might work better as a twice-a-day Amtrak route Chicago-Geneva-Dekalb-Rochelle-Dixon-Sterling-Clinton-Cedar Rapids if Iowa ever feels like paying for rail.
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In most other countries, commuter rail and intercity rail are provided by the same nationalized rail service so there's a continuum of different service types on offer. This is really where Chicago's problem lies with expanding the rail network into the hinterland - Amtrak is not equipped to operate a dense network of rail service and Metra is limited to operating in the six-county RTA service area.
Really there's no reason Metra couldn't extend 2 or 3 UP-W runs a day to DeKalb, they just need a siding to hold the trains for layover. Looks like UP still owns the DeKalb stationhouse; they could just build a platform there for less than $1M and leave the stationhouse as-is.