CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois’ top two Democrats are asking Amtrak to study the feasibility of adding trains along the Chicago-to-Carbondale route.

Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin sent a letter Wednesday to Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.

It says Amtrak ridership in Illinois grew almost 85 percent between 2006 and 2013.

Quinn and Durbin say ridership on the Chicago-to-Carbondale route grew 117 percent during the same period. That route includes stops in Champaign and several other cities.

They say: “To facilitate continued growth in passenger rail, we need to increase the number of opportunities available to riders.”

A formal Amtrak study is the first step in a request to add trains.
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