Black Hawk (Amtrak train)

Black Hawk
The Black Hawk at Dubuque in 1981
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleIllinois, Iowa
PredecessorLand O'Corn
First serviceFebruary 13, 1974
Last serviceSeptember 30, 1981
SuccessorRockford Intercity Passenger Rail (proposed)
Former operator(s)Amtrak
Route
TerminiChicago, Illinois
Dubuque, Iowa
Stops6
Distance travelled182 miles (293 km)
Average journey time4 hours 10 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)370-372
On-board services
Class(es)Unreserved coach
Catering facilitiesOn-board cafe
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Track owner(s)Chicago Central (CN)

The Black Hawk was an Amtrak passenger train service that operated from 1974 to 1981 between Chicago, Illinois, and Dubuque, Iowa, via Rockford, Illinois. The original Black Hawk operated over the Illinois Central route, now the Canadian National's Chicago Central/Iowa Zone.

From 2010 to 2014, plans called for the restored route to follow the same corridor; however, the state government could not come to an agreement with the railroad. Instead, the route would follow Metra's Milwaukee District / West Line from Union Station to Big Timber Road, then the Union Pacific Railroad to Rockford. Restored service to Rockford was planned to begin in 2015, but was put on hold by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. An extension to Dubuque was to open at a later date.

The Rockford service was later funded in 2019 with the support of Governor J.B. Pritzker. In July 2023, Pritzker announced that two round trips a day between Chicago and Rockford would begin by 2027, with the service operated by Metra as Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail rather than by Amtrak.