5.0
Pros: It was on time! To the minute! Cons: Better seating. I'm short, but still kept hitting my knees on the seat in front of me.
Lowest Prices
We partner with the top coach & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
Trip Summary
4 trains operate daily from Alton to Normal. The train trip from Alton to Normal is usually about one hour and 56 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak Lincoln Service train can get you there in as little as one hour and 49 minutes.
| Distance | 129 mi (207 km) |
| Fastest train | 1h 49m |
| Lowest price | £15.29 |
| Trains per day | 4 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Lincoln Service |
| Train lines | 3 |
Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Overall score for trains from Alton to Normal
(Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Train service from Alton to Normal
- Amtrak tickets: £15 one-way
- Amtrak Lincoln Service tickets: £15 one-way
- Amtrak Texas Eagle tickets: £15 one-way
What is the price of a train ticket from Alton to Normal?
In the last 30 days, the average cost of a train ticket from Alton to Normal was £19.47. This is a fantastic deal for train travel. You have the best chances of scoring the cheapest ticket to Normal if you book your train tickets at least 11 days in advance. Waiting to purchase until the day of your trip could end up costing you an extra £2.57.
Monthly average prices
You can find the lowest prices on this route during January. This time of year offers the best deals on train tickets from Alton to Normal, with the average price at just £14. Train tickets on this route are most expensive in March, when the average price goes up to £19. You can still score cheap deals below this average price, though, especially if you plan ahead and book your ticket in advance.
Prices as travel date approaches
Planning ahead pays off when it comes to booking your train trip from Alton to Normal. By reserving your ticket on Wanderu at least 11 days before departure, you can save around £2.57. Don't miss out on these savings — book in advance!
Which train should you take from Alton to Normal?
There are 3 train lines with service from Alton to Normal. Amtrak Lincoln Service is your best bet, with 2 scheduled trains per day.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 1 | 1h 53m | £27.59 |
| Amtrak Lincoln Service | 2 | 1h 51m | £16.62 |
| Amtrak Texas Eagle | 1 | 2h 11m | £23.91 |
Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 1 Amtrak trains from Alton to Normal every day, as well as 0 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from £15.
Amtrak Lincoln Service is part of Amtrak's Illinois Service, providing rail transportation throughout Illinois. The Lincoln Service travels 284 miles between St. Louis and Chicago with nine intermediate stops. Amtrak Lincoln trains offer WiFi connectivity, power outlets, business class seating, and a cafe car to ensure passengers have the most comfortable journey possible.
The Amtrak Texas Eagle is a 1,306-mile train route from Chicago, Illinois to San Antonio, Texas. Because of the route’s length, the train offers sleeper car options in addition to standard coach seats. Like most Amtrak trains, the Texas Eagle features power outlets at each seat, restrooms in each car, and a cafe car where passengers can purchase food and drinks. A journey from Alton to Normal on the Texas Eagle usually takes 2 hours and 11 minutes, which is best spent enjoying the incredible scenery along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Alton and Normal is approximately 129 miles, or 207 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 1 hour 56 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 1 hour 49 minutes. As a relatively short ride, taking the train is an easy way to travel between these two cities.
On a weekly basis, the greatest number of passengers tend to travel by trains from Alton to Normal on Saturday. Tickets for Saturday tend to also be the most expensive. For savvy travelers looking for cheaper priced tickets search for travel departing on Wednesday. Wednesday also tend to have less passengers which may make boarding faster and let you snag your perfect seat.
The earliest train departs Alton at 05:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 18:00. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 4 daily scheduled trains, all of which are direct trains that take you the entire way from Alton to Normal.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Normal to Alton.
City Information
Normal
Normal is a town in North Bloomington, adjacent to Bloomington. The town got its unique name in 1865 from the Illinois State Normal University, a normal school that is a teacher-training institution. Normal features the Children's Discovery Museum, Illinois State University Planetarium and Carden Park for children, and the David Davis Mansion and McLean County Museum of History for history buffs. If you're interested in exploring the outdoors, you can take a walk on the Hidden Creek Nature Sanctuary or Constitution Trail or play on the Ironwood Golf Course. Sports lovers can also check out the Redbird Arena, where basketball games are held.
Normal features a vibrant entertainment scene with different breweries and beer halls. You can participate in the Illinois Shakespeare Festival or watch shows at the Normal Theater. Normal also has a vineyard and wine bars, with most activities available in Uptown Normal, the micro-urban city center. The Uptown area has different entertainment venues, dining, and retail establishments.
You can visit Normal, Illinois, by train or bus. The city is accessible from many other cities by train, including Amtrak, Amtrak Texas Eagle, and Amtrak Lincoln Service. As for the bus lines, you can access the city from over 80 other cities onboard buses from Jefferson Lines, Amtrak Thruway, and Burlington Trailways.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Alton?
Main departure station: Multi-Modal Transportation Center
There is one train station in Alton.
All train stations in Alton:
Multi-Modal Transportation Center
Where is the train station in Normal?
Main arrival station: Uptown Station - 11 Uptown Cir
Normal has one train station.
Train stations in Normal:
Uptown Station - 11 Uptown Cir
Get around town with Moovit
Download Moovit to see all of your local transit options in Normal. Download here
Need a return trip from Normal to Alton?
Search Train Tickets
Wanderu is the simplest way to book coach and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare coach and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap coach and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading coach and train companies, we always have the best coach and train deals out there.
Book coaches and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more