Train Towns: Normal, Ill.

Can you travel to Normal, Illinois by Amtrak? Yes, and in Normal, the train station doesn't sit on the edge of town. It sits in the middle of community life.

In this full episode of Train Towns, host Ken Altman travels through Normal, Illinois, to see how Amtrak train travel has become part of the way this community lives, works, studies and stays connected.

The journey begins at Uptown Station, where Amtrak's Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle connect Normal with Chicago, Springfield, St. Louis and destinations beyond.

From there, Ken meets Mayor Chris Koos, Amtrak employees, Illinois State University students, local business owners and community leaders who share what passenger rail means to them. Along the way, we visit the Normal Theatre, Medici, Illinois State University, The Garlic Press and the Children's Discovery Museum to explore how train travel, local business, education and community development intersect in the heart of Uptown.

What does Amtrak make possible for a community like Normal? Its story shows that a train station can be more than a place to arrive and depart. Passenger rail can help people stay connected, bring visitors into a community, support local businesses and become part of a town's identity.

Watch the full episode and discover why Normal, Illinois, is a Train Town.