The lack of a finalized budget for the state has left a lot of programs unfunded or cut.
Governor Bruce Rauner’s budget calls for a $16 million - or 40% - reduction to the funds Amtrak receives from the state.
In our area that would reduce the number of train departures at the Carbondale station from three times a day to one.
On the last day of the semester, the Amtrak station is starting to fill up.
People are huddled under the small awning as rain starts to move in.
It’s mostly students headed home for summer.
“Chicago only over in that line please, everyone else up and to the left right here.”
A few are going to central part of the state but most of them are headed farther north.
With a possible funding cut that could force Amtrak to cut the Saluki and the Illini trains from their schedule, that leaves riders in this area only one choice.
The City of New Orleans, that leaves just after 3 am.
I have to take the train to get home and that's the only way I have to see my family.-Justin Edelheit, Buffalo Grove
I asked Justin Edelheithow he felt about only having one option to take the train home to Buffalo Grove.
“I probably wouldn’t take the train because I can’t get up at 3:30 in the morning because I’m a sleeper.
And for his situation he doesn’t have many other options.
“Well I don’t really have a car down here so I have to take the train to get home and that’s the only way I have to see my family. ”
Pareth Patel can understand Justin’s reliance on Amtrak.
“I don’t actually have a car here so it’s easier for me to take the train because I take the train from here to Chicago and then I take the train from Union Station to Naperville which is closer to my house.”
Rider Joe Tumminaro likes the train ride home to the suburbs.
“I actually take the train a lot I got rid of my car his year to take the train because it’s just easier.”
A few minutes later I bumped into John O’Shea he rides the train every couple of months.
And he has a really good reason to take the train instead driving.
“I live right by union station so this takes me right to there and I live two blocks away from here so it’s just easy it’s just a hassle driving 6 hours to and from.”
John says he doesn’t mind take the 3am train, but today he needs another options.
“That’s usually the one I take, but that’s just because it’s more convenient for me, I’m taking this because I have to be here somewhere tonight.”
All of these riders enjoy taking the train and some feel that limiting the number of departures will limit their traveling.
One of those is Keelia Hamdan, she’s taking multiple train to get home to Detroit.
And losing options could lead to headaches getting home, especially after exams.
“It would be much more difficult to get around and as you can see a ton of people come like the end of the semester so it would effect a lot of people.”
