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Travel Amtrak

State employees receive discounted rates from Amtrak when traveling on official State of Illinois business.

The one-way Coach rate is $24.00 (either direction), between Springfield and Chicago. The State of Illinois rate of $24.00 is available Monday through Friday. Currently, Amtrak offers five (5) daily trips, in each direction, between Springfield and Chicago.

Additional routes are available at a discounted rate for State employees. These routes and fares are listed in the table below. Complete schedules for all Illinois cities served by Amtrak may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Services Amtrak.com webpage at: www.amtrak.com/routes/illinois-services-train.html.

Departure CHI (Chicago) JOL (Joliet)

CHM (Champaign)

$17

N/A

MAT (Mattoon)

$22

N/A

CDL (Carbondale)

$39

N/A

BNL (Bloomington/Normal)

$16

N/A

SPI (Springfield)

$24

$18

ALN (Alton)

$29

N/A

MAC (Macomb)

$26

N/A

Please note that the discounted State of Illinois rates are not available from the portable quick track machines located at various stations throughout the State, nor may reservations be secured for discounted state travel on Amtrak’s website. Reservations for discounted state travel on Amtrak may be made by calling:

  • General Reservations (800) USA-RAIL

Tickets obtained at an Amtrak station must be purchased with a personal debit, credit card, or cash. Amtrak does not accept direct billing methods.

To ensure seat availability, employees should call Amtrak prior to the intended date of travel and should specifically request the “State of Illinois Official Government Travel Fare” and mention the “ZOGI” Fare Plan to the agents when they call to book or book in-person with a station agent. Employees will be asked to present a State ID upon check-in.

Reservations for travel on Saturday or Sunday may be made from any available method due to the fact that a discounted rate is not available for travel on those days. Employees must use the most economical fare available on Saturday and Sunday. To cancel a reservation, please go to www.amtrak.com/refund-and-exchange-policy for full details regarding Amtrak’s Refund and Exchange Policy.