People who commute between Milwaukee and the state's capitol could have the option of a passenger rail service.

Amtrak's Hiawatha Service, which currently transports passengers between Milwaukee and Chicago, could extend its route to Madison by 2008 at the earliest, according to Randy Wade, passenger rail manager for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Preliminary engineering and environmental assessments for the project have begun, Wade said, but further progress cannot be made until financial support for the plan is secured.

"We are ready to go with construction and (are) just seeking federal funding," he said.

The project would cost $89 million for equipment and $22 million for infrastructure, according to Wade.

Wisconsin is one of 25 states making up the States for Passenger Rail Coalition, an organization seeking federal funding for rails across the nation, he said.

Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) favors extending passenger rail service, according to Zach Goldberg, Kohl's deputy press secretary.

For the Milwaukee to Madison route to become a reality, Goldberg said federal funding in a budget bill would be needed.

Marc Magliari, Amtrak media relations director in Chicago, said he favors expanding services of the Hiawatha train to Madison.

"I think it's a good idea," he said. "It will be up to Congress and in some part the Wisconsin legislature whether that would happen."

In Amtrak's most recent annual report, the extension of the Hiawatha Service to Madison was placed on its "tier one" list, which means the proposal has received approval, Magliari said.

While waiting for federal funding and Madison service extension, Wade said other renovations are occurring in Wisconsin's passenger rail services.

"We're rehabilitating the downtown station," Wade said. "The interior will be brand new. We're improving platforms."

Changes in station appearance could be complemented by changes in frequency of the Hiawatha train, if the service is extended to Madison.

Currently, the Hiawatha train makes seven round trips between Chicago and Milwaukee each day. Amtrak wants to increase the number of trips to 10 per day in conjunction with added service to Madison, Magliari said.

There would also be six round trips between Milwaukee and Madison every day, he said.

According to Wade, fares for the Milwaukee to Madison Amtrak route would be similar to current Hiawatha rates. Passengers would pay about $20 for regular service and between $30 and $35 for high-speed service between the two cities.

High-speed trains can travel up to 110 miles per hour, he said.

Extension of the passenger rail could benefit students who frequently travel to Madison, according to Wade.

'Students are huge users of rail," he said. "We expect a lot of usage from students taking advantage of the service."

Current students, however, may not be in Milwaukee by the time the proposed rail line is completed.

Katrina Kisiolek, sophomore in the College of Business Administration, plans to complete her undergraduate degree before the proposed Milwaukee-to-Madison service is implemented, but said she would consider using it if she is in the area.

"It depends on how it compares to bus schedules, fares and convenience," she said.