FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Johnson
312 655-1338
ATK-00-36
April 12, 2000 

AMTRAK ANNOUNCES NEW PASSENGER SERVICE TO WISCONSIN

Service to run daily between Janesville and Chicago

CHICAGO - Amtrak announced today that it will begin new daily passenger train service between Chicago and Janesville, Wisc., on April 15.

Launched as part of Amtrak's Network Growth Strategy, the new train the "Lake Country Limited" will feature a daily early morning departure from Janesville to Chicago and evening return to Janesville. The service will make an intermediate stop in Glenview, Ill.

"The Midwest is at the forefront of Amtrak's aggressive growth plans", said Gov. Thompson, who is also chairman of Amtrak's Board of Directors. "This new train provides nationwide access by rail for not only passengers in the Janesville area, but for the entire business community in southern Wisconsin."

The Lake Country Limited will travel over rights-of-way operated by Metra (the Chicago commuter rail system), the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad and the I & M Rail Link. It will provide daily, all-reserved coach service while increasing Mail and Express commercial opportunities between Janesville and Chicago, providing access to Amtrak's national system for both passengers and time-sensitive shipments.

A temporary passenger facility at Janesville will be constructed on the southeast side of the city. Amtrak is also considering the addition of an intermediate stop at Walworth, Wisc., near Lake Geneva, pending upgrades to the station there.

The southbound Lake Country Limited will depart Janesville at 6:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, arriving in Glenview, Ill., at 8:50 a.m. and in Chicago at 9:20 a.m. On weekends and holidays, the train will depart Janesville at 6:15 a.m., arrive in Glenview at 8:35 a.m. and arrive in Chicago at 9:05 a.m. The northbound Lake Country Limited will depart Chicago at 8:15 p.m. daily, arrive in Glenview at 8:39 p.m. and arrive in Janesville at 11:05 p.m.

A ticket between Janesville and Chicago will be $22 each way. Customers can call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL to make a reservation.

The new service is the first route to be introduced by Amtrak as part of its Network Growth Strategy, announced earlier this year by the Amtrak Board of Directors. The strategy is based on an unprecedented, comprehensive analysis of its national rail system and potential market opportunities. It is a commercially driven plan to expand the existing rail network, increase profitability and better serve all Amtrak passengers and business partners.

This network will offer passengers not only more attractive travel options but will also provide Amtrak's Mail and Express customers with increased shipping capacity. Expanded routes and improved frequencies have been identified for 21 states, serving 975 new station pairs and increasing train miles by 4 million to a total of 38 million. The planned service growth is dependent upon agreements with freight railroads and other partners.

Amtrak operates a 22,000-mile intercity passenger rail system, serving more than 500 communities in 45 states. Under Amtrak's new leadership, the corporation is turning the corner to become a successful business enterprise. As part the turnaround, Amtrak is focusing on growing public and private business partnerships, improving and guaranteeing consistency and quality of service, introducing high-speed rail in the Northeast and developing other high-speed rail corridors nationwide.