An Amtrak line that runs daily from Chicago to New Orleans and stops in Mattoon once a day may be eliminated.

“If we don’t get approval for funding, all long distance services will be eliminated,” Bill, an Amtrak spokesman who refused to give his last name, said.

If the federal government cannot increase its subsidy to Amtrak, train 59, would be removed from the schedule.

This would leave only one other line, the Illini, to stop in Mattoon.

“We do support a temporary government subsidy,” Mark Bisbee, U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson’s, R-Sidney, press secretary, said.

“We cannot offer government to support Amtrak on a long term basis,” Bisbee said. “Sept. 11 has shifted our entire nation. We believe Sept. 11 has increased readership.”

Amtrak, which has 12 of 18 lines traveling through Chicago, is asking the federal government for $1.2 billion.

“It is going to affect a lot of college students,” said Charleston City Council member John Winnett said.

In related business, Mayor Dan Cougill said he is working with interim President Lou Hencken to come up with a co-operative effort between the city and the university that would help senior citizens and students to commute to the Mattoon station.

“I’m not sure why the federal government is cutting funds,” Cougill said.

While Amtrak is talking about eliminating lines, which they are required to give a six month notice for, there is also talk among federal government to have a high-speed rail train run from Chicago to St. Louis, Cougill said.

He said that if the high-speed rail plan goes through then it would likely run through Mattoon.

“It would use the same railway,” Cougill said.