Peoria Station

A new era in American rail passenger travel began January 13, 2018.  Nearly thirty-five years had passed since one could ride a regularly-scheduled, privately-operated intercity passenger train in the United States. When the Denver & Rio Grande Western discontinued its tri-weekly Denver-Salt Lake City Rio Grande Zephyr  on April 24, 1983 no one believed another railroad would one day introduce private, intercity rail passenger service.  Amtrak's May 1, 1971 startup eliminated most such service. Holdouts included the aforementioned D&RGW train, the Rock Island's Peoria Rocket and Quad City Rocket and the Southern Railway's four remaining trains, including its flagship Washington, DC-New Orleans streamliner, Southern Crescent .  Smaller carriers such as the Chicago South Shore & South Bend, Georgia Railroad (mixed trains only) and Reading System continued to operate such services as well. A seventh holdout, Erie Lackawanna's Cleveland-Youngst...