The possible cut of the Amtrak train Illini, a Chicago to Carbondale route, has some city and University officials worried about a drop in SIUC’s already declining enrollment and a loss of business in Carbondale.

In an effort to save the route, SIU President Ted Sanders sent a letter to Gov. Jim Edgar earlier this month stating that nearly one-third of SIUC’s 23,000 plus students rely on the train.

Elimination of the Amtrak service connecting these two regions (Carbondale and Chicago) of the state limits the opportunity for thousands of students to pursue an affordable four-year college degree, the letter stated.

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Word that the service might be cut came in November when Amtrak asked Illinois legislatures for a $2.5 million subsidy that would fund the service through June 30.

Marc Magliari, public affairs manager for Amtrak, said federal budget cuts forced Amtrak to ask Illinois legislators for the subsidy to avoid cutting the Illini route that runs daily from Chicago to Carbondale, with afternoon and evening times. He said the current subsidy will run out in February and the service will be cut unless there is another subsidy to extend the service or another agreement is reached.

Rebecca Whittington, president of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, said she is concerned that cutting the train route will lead to a decline in enrollment at SIUC.

This will have a ripple effect, Whittington said. The loss of students could lead to loss of revenue and jobs to the area.

Because SIUC is the largest employer in Southern Illinois, a further decline in enrollment could cause a loss of University jobs and less revenue in Southern Illinois, Whittington said. This could lead to further job loss in the community, she said.

Whittington said the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce is producing a video in conjunction with the University consisting of interviews with students and others concerned about the cut. She said copies of the video will be sent to state representatives and the governor.

Along with the video, we are producing fliers and writing letters, she said. We are not statistics below I-64, and we will make sure the governor hears us.

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James S. Prowell, executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, said that cutting of the route would be detrimental to Southern Illinois.

This would be devastating in the long run, he said. We have people who come to Carbondale to take the train to Chicago on business and we will lose their business when they no longer come to Carbondale to take the train.

SIUC Chancellor John C. Guyon said he agrees with the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. He said that the University will assist in the city’s efforts to keep the route.

There is an associated relationship, he said. Without the train many students may not have a way to come to school here. A declining enrollment is possible.

Eric Robinson, spokesman for Edgar, said the governor would like a long term solution, not more stop-gap spending.

The governor wants to hear from the citizens of Southern Illinois to see if this is worth a long-term solution, Robinson said.

David Klaproth, owner of Mail Boxes Etc., said he has attempted to coordinate the citizens’ response by starting a signature petition in his store and then faxing the sheets full of signatures to the governor. Under the slogan, Save the Rails, Klaproth said he hopes to make students and citizens aware of the possible cut.

People need the train, he said. This has struck a common cord. People have come in to the store just to sign the sheet to be heard.

Klaproth said the train is a public service, and it should not be taken away.

When I heard the governor say, Maybe I shouldn’t give them the money,’ I knew I had to do something, he said. It is not his money to give.