By DOUG WILSON

Herald-Whig Senior Writer

MACOMB, Ill. -- Tom Carper, a former mayor of Macomb, has been confirmed in the U.S. Senate to serve on the Amtrak Board.

"I'm excited about taking the success we've had in Illinois and the expansion and seeing if this can be replicated elsewhere in the system," said Carper, who is director for Opportunity Returns economic development program in Western Illinois.

The Amtrak Board comprises seven members who serve five-year terms. They are nominated by the president with advice and consent from the Senate.

Carper's nomination was made several months ago. His appointment was confirmed about 2:30 a.m. Friday.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., welcomed Carper's appointment.

"As mayor and regional director ... he has brought together business leaders, community leaders and elected officials around a common goal. As a member of the (Amtrak) board, I have no doubt he will do the same to improve passenger rail in the United States," Durbin said.

Rick Harnish, executive director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, said the appointment is good news.

"It brings representation from the Midwest to the Amtrak Board, which has been absent during much of Amtrak's history," Harnish said.

Matthew Melzer, a spokesman for the National Association of Railroad Passengers, said Carper understands how Amtrak is a link not only between big cities, but between rural America and big cities.

"He has the perspective of someone from a city that benefits from Amtrak in a state that has invested in passenger rail service," Melzer said.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Carper's work on the Amtrak board fits in well with his record as a champion for passenger rail service and his job promoting economic development through Opportunity Returns.

Quincy Mayor John Spring is on the Amtrak Coalition for the Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg corridor between Quincy and Chicago. Spring said it is good to have someone who understands the importance of Amtrak to Western Illinois appointed to the national board.

Amtrak was established by an act of Congress in 1970. It now serves 500 communities in 46 states and set a record for ridership in 2007 with 25.8 million passengers, up 1.5 million passengers from 2006.

In Illinois, an average of 48 Amtrak trains run each day and more than 2.5 million passengers go through Amtrak's Midwestern hub in Chicago.

-- dwilson@whig.com/221-3372