The Least Used Amtrak Station in Illinois as of 2023

Photo byStephen MeaseonUnsplash

CHICAGO, IL - Amtrak's presence in Illinois remains significant, with up to 55 trains operating daily across various routes by the end of Fiscal Year 2023.

The state is served by both long-distance and state-supported routes, ensuring connectivity across major cities and smaller communities.

According to Amtrak, among the busiest stations, Chicago's Union Station unsurprisingly leads the pack with 2,722,448 passengers. Other heavily trafficked stations include Bloomington-Normal with 203,842 riders and Champaign-Urbana with 217,042 passengers.

According to Amtrak, however, not all stations see such high usage. The least used station in Illinois is Gilman, with only 1,702 passengers throughout the year. This stark contrast highlights the varying levels of ridership across the state.

In total, Illinois stations served 3,898,203 passengers in FY 2023. Despite the extensive network, Amtrak's on-time performance remains challenged, largely due to issues with host railroads prioritizing freight traffic over passenger trains, which continues to affect the overall efficiency of the service, according to Amtrak.