KEN EXUM/The Register-Mail

An Amtrak worker waits by her door to assist passengers Monday evening as train No. 3, The Southwest Chief, boards at the Galesburg station.

More Illinoisans riding state's rails

And officials push for even greater growth with Web

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

By RON JENSEN

The Register-Mail

City and state officials, business representatives and officials from Amtrak and a rail advocacy organization gathered Monday at the depot on South Seminary Street to tout a new Web site designed to make riding the rails easier and to shine a light on increased use of the trains in the past year.

Ray Lang, director of government affairs for Amtrak, said 40,000 more people rode the Chicago to Quincy corridor from October 2006 to July 2007 than during the same time period one year earlier.

"It's a remarkable increase," he said, giving credit to a new service known as the Carl Sandburg that passes through Galesburg twice a day, coming and going.

The new Web site is www.CatchAnIllinoisTrain.com and includes schedules for trains in Illinois, information on how to buy tickets and tips on riding the train, such as baggage restrictions and how to find a seat.

The Web site is promoted by the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, which advocates more and more reliable train travel.

"It's targeted at folks who may not have used the train before," said Rick Harnish, the association's executive director. "The goal is just to get more people on trains."

Posters and flyers, each containing the schedules for trains stopping in Galesburg, were available. They will be distributed to travel agencies and other businesses.

Diane Bruening, executive director of the Galesburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the schedules are included in every mailing from her office.

Harnish said, "Trains are absolutely essential to the economic growth of Galesburg and the state of Illinois."

Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, said the new route added one year ago proves the "Field of Dreams" adage.

"Rail service is a classic example of build it and they will come," he said, noting the increased ridership after the new line was added. "We want to make sure people consider passenger rail a viable service."

He said riding the rails cuts air pollution and traffic congestion. Plus, Moffitt noted, a ticket to Chicago can cost less than parking a car in the Windy City.

Also, a bill for capital projects in the state, if funded and passed, he said, could include money for more track sidings, which would increase on-time rates for Amtrak by allowing passenger trains to continue rather than stopping while freight trains pass.

An outgrowth of the increased ridership, too, Moffitt noted, is a conversation now about expanding the size of the Galesburg depot.

"These are the kinds of problems that are nice to deal with," he said.

Alderman Mike Lummis, Ward 7, said his family has used the new route extensively because several relatives live in the Quincy area.

He added, "I look for ridership to pick up next month when the Cubs are in the World Series."