Ridership increases 10%
QUINCY -- Amtrak is off to a record start in 2009, and the two Quincy routes are some of the most ridden in the state of Illinois.
The Illinois Zephyr and the Carl Sandburg trains saw a 10% increase in riders compared to last year.
KHQA talked with Quincy mayor John Spring about the success of the trains.
He says improvements to the Quincy station have been made because of the increase in riders.
There are now more parking spaces, a ticket kiosk, and better information posted at the station.
Spring also says the two trains are great for the Quincy to Chicago run, but he'd like to see more.
"I would love us to explore more opportunities into that St. Louis corridor. It would involve Missouri Amtrak and using the lines that go to St. Louis on the Missouri side. We're in the preliminary stages with that, but it's been discussed," says Mayor John Spring.
If President Obama's economic stimulus package gets passed, it would include money to spruce up some of the train coaches and lines to make Amtrak service better.
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