Amtrak revived the "Illini" on December 19, 1973, again as a Chicago–Champaign service. The restoration was part of $1.5 million expansion program which included the "Black Hawk" (Chicago–Rockford–Dubuque), the "State House" (St. Louis–Chicago), and supplemental funding for the Rock Island's two remaining Rockets (Chicago–Peoria and Chicago–Rock Island). The state desired to extend the "Illini" to Decatur, but doing so involved a switch from the Illinois Central to the Norfolk & Western at Tolono, south of Champaign. The connection between the lines was in poor condition, and no one would take responsibility for repairing it.