![On July 6, Metra Board Chair Romayne C. Brown and CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski joined Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Rockford, Ill., elected officials to announce that the commuter railroad will operate state-supported passenger rail service to Rockford starting in late 2027. (Photograph and Caption Details Courtesy of Metra, via Twitter)](https://www.railwayage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/metra-315x168.png)
Chicago-Rockford Passenger Rail Service Returns
Partners Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Metra and Union Pacific (UP) will restore Chicago-Rockford, Ill., passenger rail service in late 2027. The Rebuild Illinois* capital plan includes $275 million for the project,