The train routes being cut to three days a week include the City of New Orleans route, which runs through Kankakee.

Amtrak will cut service later this year on most of its long-distance routes nationwide to three times a week instead of the current daily service because ridership has fallen significantly during the coronavirus pandemic. Amtrak officials announced the cuts will take effect October 1 and remain in place until at least the summer of 2021, but daily service could be restored if demand improves along its long-distance routes.

The train routes being cut to three days a week include the California Zephyr, Capitol Limited, City of New Orleans, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder, Lake Shore Limited, Palmetto, Southwest Chief, and Texas Eagle. The Sunset Limited and Cardinal trains already operate three times per week.

The Kankakee Amtrak station is along the City of New Orleans route. The service starts travels through Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky and Illinois. In Illinois, the train stops at Mattoon, Kankakee, Homewood, Effingham, Champaign, Chicago, Centralia, Carbondale.

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