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Members of Facebook group "Save the Illini and Saluki: Illinois's War on Amtrak" were a small portion of an overwhelming voice that influenced legislators to halt measures to eliminate two popular train lines through Carbondale.
After Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other state officials pledged to continue funding for Amtrak and several other programs set to be put on the chopping block, legislators are looking for other ways to deal with the state's $2 billion budget deficit. But for now, the more than 200,000 passengers to use the lines in the past year are pleased the Saluki and Illini trains are staying on track.
Bureau of Railroads Chief George Weber said there has been a lot effort from interests groups and others voicing their concern for the two lines being taken away.
Weber said the public outcry is one of the main reasons Blagojevich decided to reverse his decision.
Jermaine Raymer, an SIUC senior from Champaign studying political science and creator of the Facebook group, said when he first heard about the Amtrak cut he was in disbelief.
Raymer said he knows many people travel using those two lines and wondered how the government could cut something that would affect so many.
"I came down here last August and in the past year I've used the train eight out of the 12 months," Raymer said.
Before jumping to conclusions and creating the group, Raymer said he researched several articles to make sure the cut was really on the state's agenda.
Raymer said every time he has taken the train there is always an incredible amount of students on board. He figured if he made the group there would be a lot people from the university and others that would speak out about this problem, he said.
Currently the group has more than 360 members, and several wall posts and discussion topics have been made. Conversation among the group ranged from students wondering how they will get home to how the amount of cars on the road may increase, which would negatively affect the environment.
Katie Ridgway, spokeswoman for the governor's office, said Blagojevich's decision to keep the funding for Amtrak intact was based on several factors. People speaking out, data proving how many people use the lines and higher prices of certain commodities were just a few, Ridgway said.
"We saw that ridership had increased and with rising gas prices, we knew funding for these two lines was important," Ridgway said.
Weber said Illinois rail fares are some of the lowest in the Midwest and that is why it is used the most frequently.
"It's important the lines continue to stay in service because it has become the main form of travel for a lot of people," he said.
Ridgway said the House plans to meet again this week to act on different measures they should take to figure out the how to fix the state's budget. As for now, Amtrak is in the clear of not being part of the cut.
Those like Raymer can put their mind at ease knowing that the Saluki and Illini service will not be affected as the state tries to dig itself out of the hole of debt.
Raymer said no matter what the future outcome of Amtrak would be, he plans to keep the group. He said it would be a reminder that if there is a threat to cut the lines again, everyone will know how to voice their opinion and to whom they need to voice it.
Jenn Lofton can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 273 or jlofton@siu.edu.
