NOW YOU'RE TALKIN':

High-speed rail line planned in Midwest (ASSOCIATED PRESS, July 1, 2009)

When it comes to trains, there's fast and there's really fast.

Advocates on Tuesday unveiled an $11.5 billion plan for a Chicago-St. Louis high-speed line that could cut travel times to two hours from the current five. If built, it would be among the fastest U.S. lines and would rival high-tech systems already in place in Europe and Asia.

Under the proposal, electric-powered trains would cover the nearly 300 miles between Chicago and St. Louis at speeds up to 220 mph - more than 100 mph faster than diesel-powered trains to be used in a comparatively modest plan already advocated by eight Midwestern governors.