Lincoln Service — Schedules, Fares & Stops

The Lincoln Service connects Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO over a 284-mile route operated by Amtrak (IDOT), calling at 10 stations across 2 states.

Quick Facts

Operator: Amtrak (IDOT)
Service type: State-Supported Corridor
Endpoints: Chicago ↔ St. Louis
Distance: 284 mi
Frequency: Four daily round trips
Stations: 10
States served: 2 (IL, MO)
Typical fare range: $25 – $55

Route guide

The Lincoln Service is a state-supported corridor service operated by Amtrak (IDOT). Trains run Four daily round trips over 284 miles of mainline track between Chicago Union Station and St. Louis Gateway, calling at 10 intermediate and terminal stations across 2 states. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.

What to watch for: Central Illinois farmland; the rebuilt corridor supports 110-mph running between Joliet and Alton.

History & service notes

Named for Abraham Lincoln, the service has been progressively upgraded since 2010 with high-speed trackwork, new Siemens Charger locomotives, and refurbished cars. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.

Equipment

Typical consist on the Lincoln Service includes horizon and Amfleet I cars with Charger SC-44 locomotives. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.

Stops along the route

Stations are listed in geographical order from Chicago to St. Louis. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.

Chicago Union Station — Chicago, IL CHI
Summit — Summit, IL SMT
Joliet — Joliet, IL JOL
Pontiac — Pontiac, IL PON
Bloomington–Normal — Normal, IL NLN
Lincoln, IL — Lincoln, IL LCN
Springfield, IL — Springfield, IL SPI
Carlinville — Carlinville, IL CRV
Alton — Alton, IL ALN
St. Louis Gateway — St. Louis, MO STL

Sample fares & travel times

Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.

From	To	Distance	Time	Fare
Chicago	Summit	32 mi	48m	$12 – $26
Summit	Joliet	32 mi	48m	$12 – $26
Joliet	Pontiac	32 mi	48m	$12 – $26
Pontiac	Normal	32 mi	48m	$12 – $26
Normal	Lincoln	32 mi	48m	$12 – $26
Lincoln	Springfield	32 mi	48m	$12 – $26
Springfield	Carlinville	32 mi	48m	$12 – $26
Carlinville	Alton	32 mi	48m	$12 – $26
Alton	St. Louis	32 mi	48m	$12 – $26
Summit	St. Louis	252 mi	5h 12m	$23 – $51
Chicago	Joliet	63 mi	1h 26m	$13 – $29
Joliet	St. Louis	221 mi	4h 35m	$22 – $48
Chicago	Pontiac	95 mi	2h 4m	$15 – $33
Pontiac	St. Louis	189 mi	3h 57m	$20 – $44
Chicago	Normal	126 mi	2h 41m	$17 – $37
Normal	St. Louis	158 mi	3h 20m	$18 – $40
Chicago	Lincoln	158 mi	3h 20m	$18 – $40
Lincoln	St. Louis	126 mi	2h 41m	$17 – $37

Connections & transfers

Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From Chicago, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at St. Louis. The corridor passes through cities including Chicago, Summit, and St. Louis, each with its own onward service map. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.

Trip planning tip. The Lincoln Service's lowest fares typically appear when booked 14 days or more in advance, and on midweek departures. Same-day "walk-up" fares are usually closer to the upper end of the range shown. Saver and Value buckets sell out first.