From David Jordan’s blog:
According to Delta Air Lines’ current timetables, jet service to Minneapolis/St. Paul begins April 6. On that date, Pinnacle Airlines dba Delta Connection will begin operating two daily roundtrips between Peoria and MSP using 50-seat Canadair Regional Jets.
Last time David broke a transportation story, it took a month for the PJS to pick it up. Let’s count the days.
 |
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates The Blog Peoria Project, which promotes community-based citizen journalism in his hometown, Peoria IL. Call me at (309) 863-5748 and leave a message. Or email me.
TellPeoria’s Peoria Spy Network TellPeoria’s YOUR TURN PeoriaChronicle Merle Widmer’s Peoria Watch CW Notes The Community Word
You can get to Minneapolis from here now, but on a smaller turboprop.
… and I hear the highways are open, too.
You can also get there via train, but you have to catch it in Bloomington.
Yes, and you have to change trains in Chicago. Lowest fare is $86.00 on No. 302 from Normal (dep. 9:46am) to Chicago (arr. 12:20pm) and No. 27 from Chicago (dep. 2:20pm) and Minneapolis (arr. 10:31pm).
Existing airline service is nonstop, btw, and about two hours each way. That will drop to 1 hour, 30 minutes or 1 hour and 45 minutes when jets are deployed in April.
Most flyers will make connections at Minneapolis/St. Paul anyway (like to Tokyo) so the train isn't always an alternative.
Taking the train is cheaper but slower. Flying is costly, but faster. Both forms of transportation have their niche.