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Public Transportation
Find comprehensive information on passenger services, safety protocols, and Amtrak routes to enhance your travel experience.
Transit System
Across the state, 63 public transit operators/providers help millions of people reach their destinations. This includes an estimated 400 million bus riders statewide. Illinois transit systems supported more than 736 million trips in 2013 – across the state, from rural to urban areas. Ninety-six out of the state’s 102 counties offer some type of transit service to their communities.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates the second largest public transportation system in the nation, covering the city of Chicago and nearby suburbs, and transporting over 545 million riders a year. The CTA system is composed of 140 bus routes and 242 miles of rapid transit rail track. The six-county Chicago region is also served by Metra, the commuter rail agency in Northeastern Illinois, with 11 lines and 241 stations, and an annual ridership of more than 81 million, and Pace, the suburban bus agency, with over 39 million riders.
View a map of Illinois' transit system.
Rail System
Illinois is at the center of the nation’s rail network. It has a comprehensive rail network consisting of approximately 9,982 miles of railroad tracks, 7,792 of which are operated by Class I railroads – primarily BNSF Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad (UP). Class I railroads are large freight companies, Class II and Class III are small regional railroad companies. The remaining 2,190 miles of track are operated by Class III short line or regional railroads. A total of 41 railroads currently operate in Illinois. They range in size from a short one-mile interstate carrier to larger railroads extending from Illinois to the West and East Coasts, Gulf of Mexico, Canada, and Mexico. Seven are freight (Class I) carriers and 34 are regional, local, switching and terminal railroads.
In all, 40 railroads are able to provide service from Illinois to every part of the United States. Chicago is the largest US rail gateway and there is another major rail center located in East St. Louis. Rail’s importance to both Chicago and the state is highlighted by the fact that over 1,300 freight, passenger and commuter trains pass through the Chicago region every day and, in 2011, Illinois ranked first in the nation in terms of rail freight volume at 490.4 million tons.
Illinois boasts four intercity passenger rail corridors that make connections to 32 Amtrak stations across the state. Amtrak offers travelers 14 stations that quickly connect with bus service, two that connect with ferry service, and six that connect with intercity bus service.
