Amtrak government affairs director to meet with community leaders on Thursday, Dec. 12

Amtrak Government Affairs Director Derrick James has confirmed to Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan that he will visit Du Quoin on Thursday, December 12.

James will meet with the mayor and several community leaders for a luncheon at Alongi's from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to discuss Amtrak's growth, the Du Quoin passenger station and any needs of the city with respect to Amtrak service.

If you have any valid comments or concerns you would like to pass along, please contact city administrator Brad Myers at city hall or get a message to Mayor Duncan between now and the meeting.

Amtrak provides daily service in and out of Du Quoin with four stops, northbound stops at approximately 7:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. and southbound stops at approximately 12:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Illinois this fall agreed to spend an additional $9 million to support Amtrak service in the state, joining other state governments in bringing a measure of stability to the passenger rail service's most heavily traveled routes.

The state is picking up the tab for one additional daily round-trip on the Chicago-to-St. Louis corridor, where the state is investing heavily to speed up trains to 110 mph with help from President Barack Obama's high-speed rail initiative.

Illinois was already subsidizing nearly all of its state service on routes from Chicago to Quincy in western Illinois and Carbondale in the southern part of the state, as well as to St. Louis and Milwaukee.

Amtrak had a record 31.2 million passengers in 2012 on more than 300 daily trains - at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph) - that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces. Amtrak operates intercity trains in partnership with 15 states and contracts with 13 commuter rail agencies to provide a variety of services.