IT'S SOON GOING TO BE A SPEEDIER TRIP ON AMTRAK'S LINCOLN SERVICE FROM CHICAGO TO SAINT LOUIS. 

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SPOKESPERSON PAUL WAPPEL SAYS THANKS TO THE ROUTE'S HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT, PASSENGER TRAINS WILL NOW REACH 110 MILES PER HOUR.

THE NEARLY TWO BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT ALSO INCLUDED MAJOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT OVER 200 GRADE CROSSINGS TO HELP PREVENT VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN COLLISIONS ON THE TRACKS.

39 CROSSING DEEMED AT-RISK WERE PERMANENTLY CLOSED.