Construction Details

2022 Construction

Lenox Interlocking Reconfiguration Project in the Village of Mitchell, Madison County

The completed project reconfigured the Lenox Interlocking, located in Mitchell, Ill., approximately 16 miles northeast of St. Louis, to increase speeds and operational flexibility for both passenger and freight services. Four rail lines intersect at the location, with six railroads operating approximately 46 daily trains over the interlocking, which is a critical gateway into St. Louis. The project is estimated to reduce Amtrak trip times by three minutes, reduce freight train delays by more than two hours per day, and reduce gate downtime at a nearby grade crossing by two hours per day.

The project was made possible by a $5.1 million grant from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program, administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, with contributions of $1.3 million from IDOT, $2 million from Union Pacific, $1 million from Amtrak, $440,000 from BNSF Railway and $300,000 from Kansas City Southern.