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 The additional frequency on the Quincy route will be known as the Carl Sandburg and both it and the current Illinois Zephyr will carry new train numbers.

Reservations and tickets for the Carl Sandburg (Trains 381 & 382) and Illinois Zephyr (Trains 380 & 383) are now available nationwide through Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL, using Quik-Trak automated ticket machines, visiting a staffed Amtrak station, or through select travel agents.

These state-supported trains will operate as reserved service, with the lowest fares ordinarily available with the most advanced purchase, and offer food and beverages in the café car. Ten-ride tickets will also be available, as will Business class in a two-seats/aisle/one-seat configuration with leg rests, foot rests and other amenities for a slight surcharge.

Gov. Blagojevich recently announced the new schedules, train numbers and ticket availability for the state-sponsored Chicago-Carbondale trains, the new Saluki (Trains 390 & 391) and the current Illini (Trains 392 & 393). Starting October 30, daily train service between Chicago and Carbondale is increasing from two round-trips to three round-trips, two of them state-supported. Source: Amtrak.

   Amtrak's first president, Roger Lewis, was told by President Nixon that his role was to facilitate the orderly demise of the passenger train in America.

   As Alexander Kummant takes the reins of our national rail passenger corporation, the question is being asked whether he has been installed by Amtrak's Board to further the aims of the present Administration in killing off Amtrak.

   Early in 1974, when Amtrak was less than three years old, a major grassroots campaign began to oust Lewis, under whose leadership Amtrak was going nowhere. Lewis even tried to turn down increased funding from Congress. At that time NARP told the White House that "Lewis should be replaced with someone committed to the goal of modern passenger service and who has a background of solid achievement and experience in the railroad business" (Lewis came from the airline industry).

   Critics now are looking at Kummant's background and noting that the Amtrak presidency is the seventh job he has held since 1998 and most of them have been outside the railroad industry and none related to passenger railroading. Respected transportation editor Frank Wilner commented that "Kummant hops from job to job and around the globe as if tethered to a pogo stick."

   Wilner also pointed out that there probably will be a lot of "bloodletting" at Amtrak "and that is best achieved by someone having no friends within the organization."

   It seemed strange that Kummant offered no interviews upon his appointment. What would he have to say? Kummant is this week testifying for Amtrak before Congress. Can he show himself as "someone committed to the goal of modern railroad passenger service" and claim "solid achievement and experience in the railroad business" as was demanded of Amtrak's second president (who was Paul Reistrup)? Kummant did work for Union Pacific for 3 1/2 years, much of that time in industrial products.

   Time will tell whether Kummant is on the side of passenger train users or whether he is merely a stooge for the anti-train Administration and was appointed because of his large political contributions to Bush. Will we hear "You're doing a heckuva job, Alex!"

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