Amtrak's college connections emphasized

SPRINGFIELD –Universities, mayors and the rail industry are teaming up to ask the state for money to add trains between Chicago and Illinois college towns like Champaign-Urbana, Quincy, Bloomington and Carbondale.

Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard said college students made up nearly a third of the 3 million passengers on Illinois trains last year and many of the busiest Amtrak stations are in college towns.

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