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Originally Posted by Mister Uptempo
A single track Air Line Connector seems like a major chokepoint waiting to happen. They expect to pin airport-to-McCormick service, plus Amtrak East Coast, Michigan Service, Illini/Saluki, CONO, Cardinal, potential CHI-IND-Cincy/Louisville routes, Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle, plus future Metra RER-type service all on a single track connector?
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The single track would have all the existing Amtrak services, but not ORD-to-McCormick or Metra. Any expansion of regional or commuter service will require a 2nd track and maybe a new river bridge.
Note the bit about Amtrak purchasing UP's Canal St Yard near Chinatown - long-term, they can relocate some yard functions there to open up more space for a proper 2-track connection.
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ETA - There's also no mention whether the eastern approach to the Air Line Connector will fly over the Rock Island tracks or cross them at grade. Others here have greater knowledge of such things, but $146 million seems an awfully low figure for a combination connector and flyover, no? If trains cross at grade, you'll have another serious source of delays, even more so whenever Southwest Service trains terminate at LaSalle Street Station.
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No flyover at 16th St Junction, it will remain a flat junction but will be upgraded with new alignments and wider turn radius for faster speeds. This requires new overpass locations at Clark St and maybe modifications to the Wells-Wentworth road project that's nearing completion. Not to mention that Related wants to build a Red Line subway station
directly underneath 16th St Junction for The 78.
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I also found this a curious line. I'd like to hear more about this idea
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The mail platforms were originally accessed thru the Old Post Office, but that access is now closed due to the redevelopment of the OPO. There is a sub-basement corridor that runs from the Union Station concourse to the mail platforms as well, but it probably does not meet modern fire codes to handle large crowds and a upgrade would be extremely costly.