U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Amtrak President Alexander Kummant held a joint interview with the Associated Press this week. Both men were upbeat about most of Amtrak's prospects, but Durbin pointed out that there is still a $700 million spread between the budget he wants and the one favored by President Bush.

In his initial budget plan, Bush called for $900 million for Amtrak, which would have been a sizable cut from the current budget. The House has since passed a $1.1 billion spending plan. The Senate has approved a $1.4 billion Amtrak budget, and Durbin and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich have called for a $1.6 billion figure.

Eventually, the House and Senate must approve identical budget plans. Until then it is likely that Congress will pass continuing resolutions that preserve Amtrak funding at its current level. Those resolutions will be needed after Oct. 1, when the new federal fiscal year begins.

"The good news is that Congress has shown its commitment to Amtrak on a bipartisan basis. The number we are going to produce is going to be significantly higher than the president's budget, which I think is a vote of confidence for Amtrak and its future," said Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat.

Marc Magliari, a spokesman for Amtrak, said even though the federal budget is not set, Amtrak is proceeding with additional trains that were promised to Illinois lawmakers.

"It is our intention to begin the service on Oct. 30 on all three routes" serving Quincy, Carbondale and Springfield, Magliari said.

Quincy will be served by a second daily round-trip train. For years, the Zephyr route has involved a train that leaves about 6 a.m. from Quincy and arrives in Chicago shortly after 10:30 a.m. The train returns from Chicago at about 5:55 p.m. and arrives back in Quincy about 10 p.m.

Magliari said another train will leave Chicago in the morning and arrive in Quincy near midday. That train will then leave Quincy in the afternoon for arrival in Chicago during the evening.

Exact times have not yet been set, due to ongoing negotiations with the freight lines that own and operate the track used by the Zephyr.

Amtrak use has been up. For the year that ended in June, a record 952,529 passengers rode Amtrak trains in Illinois -- an 11 percent passenger increase over the previous year. Illinois has paid $12.1 million a year to Amtrak during the past decade to maintain passenger rail service.

This year state lawmakers and Blagojevich doubled Illinois' contribution to nearly $24.3 million in order to ensure the additional train service to Quincy, Carbondale and Springfield. The added funding secures the first Midwest Amtrak expansion in 20 years.

Durbin, a member of the Senate subcommittee on transportation funding, got commitments last spring for the added Amtrak service. The state also would like to see Rockford-to-Chicago service restored. Amtrak is studying the proposal.

Quincy Mayor John Spring feels certain that Congress will allocate the necessary money for Amtrak

"We will be fine," Spring said. "We're getting geared up for Oct. 30. It's going to be a great day for people along this route."

Spring attended an Amtrak coalition meeting in Galesburg on Wednesday and updated other mayors and train supporters about additional parking that's being provided at Quincy's Amtrak station.

Durbin did not predict a final figure, but said he hoped $1.4 billion would be sufficient to allow Amtrak to basically continue Illinois' current rail service and expand in some areas.

Matt Vanover, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said Amtrak cutbacks historically have led to reduced rail trips.

"Illinois cannot afford to shoulder this burden alone and should the federal government reduce its commitment to Amtrak, rail passenger service in our state and all of the Midwest would be severely impacted or in some areas may cease," Vanover said.

The Amtrak board has proposed passing on certain overhead operating costs to states, which has Illinois officials worried.

Kummant said whatever happens would not be done "cold turkey" or without budget planning on the states' parts.

"Our strategy really is engagement and reaching out to the states, working with the (Departments of Transportation) and coming up with really a multiyear plan," he said.

Kummant also suggested Illinois should not be as concerned as most states with possible financial consequences.

"There's no doubt the leading states -- like Illinois -- put out big commitments and not all states have committed to that degree," he said.