"Metra to Revive Rockford's Passenger Rail Service"

Metra and Union Pacific have reached an agreement to bring passenger rail service back to Rockford, Illinois by late 2027. The service will include stops in Belvidere, Huntley, and Elgin, with a trip from Rockford to Chicago taking approximately 95 minutes. The project, funded by $275 million in Rebuild Illinois capital improvement funds, will involve extensive improvements to Union Pacific-owned tracks. Metra was chosen over Amtrak for the service, and officials believe the new rail service will have a positive economic impact on the region.