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HANNIBAL, MO. -- Amtrak service may still be on track for Hannibal.

Last year there was a petition drive called "Train to Twain" to garner support for a extension of Amtrak service from Chicago to Hannibal.  Right now the line ends in Quincy.

We talked to Terry Sampson the Executive Director of the Hannibal Chamber of Commerce.  He says talks to bring service to Hannibal began three years ago.  Since then he and other city representatives talked with MODOT, IDOT, Amtrak and officials from the cities of Macomb and Quincy a couple of times about extending the service.

Now the Missouri Department of Transportation has hired a consultant to study what rail service is needed in the state.  A state rail plan is mandatory before any federal funding can be issued to extend the rail service.  The work on the state rail plan began in June with a completion set for May of 2012.

In the meantime consultants will schedule public meetings to measure support for rail service in all areas of the state.  Sampson says that's when the Hannibal community will need to turn out to support it.

What could this bring to Hannibal?

Sampson said, "Well it would bring more people into our area.  But it goes both ways.  I think day trips from Hannibal to Chicago would increase. A link to St. Louis would just increase that even more."

If Amtrak rail service to Hannibal is seen as a need in the state, a ridership revenue analysis would be done to make sure an extension would be cost effective. Even if the service is approved, it's still years down the road.