THE DOWNSIDE OF NOT OFFERING SPECIAL ADMISSIONS TO LEGISLATORS? The latest issue of Passenger Train Journal follows recent developments in the politics of running a passenger train between Dubuque and Chicago by way of Galena, Freeport, Rockford, and either Belvidere or Genoa. The Belvidere routing is currently under development, although the people of Genoa and DeKalb aren't done lobbying yet. Journal editor Mike Schafer, a Northern Illinois University graduate, weighs in.

The war between Genoa and Belvidere flashed again, with Genoa crying "foul" while NIU's weekly [summer only] newspaper, The Northern Star, blasted the headline "Railroaded!" across its front page along with an editorial that huffed about the campus now being bypassed by Amtrak. At least my alma mater is passenger-train aware; but better that it use its clout to get Metra service extended 15 miles from Elburn right to the NIU campus.

I'm not sure what clout the university has, particularly with passenger-allergic Union Pacific using its easy access to The Junction restaurant as reason to park trains across the street from campus. Until Metra service touches some other part of DeKalb County, getting The Overland Route to run scoots to DeKalb will forever be ten years away.