By Genevieve Judge, Local News 8 Reporter

POCATELLO - Passenger rail service could be a reality in eastern Idaho.  Amtrak is studying the Pioneer Route service that was discontinued 12 years ago.  The route included Pocatello.

Sharon Empey loves to drive but not to fly.  She used to ride rail when Amtrak was in Pocatello more than 10 years ago.  She's hoping she can take a ride on a train again soon.

"I think it's important that we have a train here like they have on the east coast or in the eastern part of the United States and the Midwest and be able to go to east and west," said Empey.

In 1997, passenger rail service by Amtrak on the Pioneer Route stopped rolling into Pocatello.  Mayor Roger Chase says bringing trains back gives local people another mode of transportation, helps the environment and also helps tourism.

"Maybe in the summers we have an old steam engine that goes from Pocatello to Yellowstone park and that would again bring tourists to come and stay over night in Pocatello or overnight in Idaho Falls," said Mayor Chase.

The train would travel through Montpelier and Soda Springs, through Pocatello, Shoshone then Boise and Nampa before heading to Oregon.

Senator Mike Crapo says the Pioneer Route never should have closed.  As part of the transportation bill passed last year, Crapo put in a mandate that Amtrak study the Pioneer Route.

"They're evaluating it as part of the entire Amtrak system which tremendously changes the economics.  And frankly may significantly reduce the potential that we would need to seek communities like Pocatello and other communities have a significant support effort," said Senator Crapo.

Crapo adds he doesn't know if local and state communities will be asked to help pay for Amtrak service until the study is out breaking down the numbers.  Mayor Chase says that one issue is the train schedule.  It's a reason the train left in ‘97.  But they're going to work on it.

"When you're driving from Portland to Denver, if you start in Portland at 8, you're probably going to get in Pocatello a little later.  And that is one of the problems Pocatello will have.  We're never going to have the ideal time but we could have maybe some better times," said Mayor Chase.

Empey says she'd much rather take a train than drive a long distance.  "It would be really nice to just be able to go down to the pocatello station and get on the train," said Empey.

Amtrak passenger rail service could be back in the next three to four years if things go according to plan.

The preliminary Amtrak study on restoring the Pioneer Route service is due out in the next few days.  Senator Crapo says he'll have a copy of the report on his website.