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MISSOULA - Students gathered at the University Center on the UM campus Thursday to hear from people who want to bring back the North Coast Hiawatha passenger rail route.

The rally focused on the benefits of Amtrak, especially for students. A feasibility study released last year said it would cost more than$ 1 billion to get the route up and running again.

The southern route would connect Chicago with Seattle and students have been signing an online petition in an effort to help bring back Amtrak to Missoula.

"This is a population of folks who will I think could directly benefit from the passenger rail service as another transportation option" commented Missoula City Councilman Dave Strohmaier.

"I really hope that we are able to bring the train back...in my own opinion it's going to be inevitable and one day it will be brought back, it may be a few years down the road once we find a cheaper alternative, but it's just such a positive thing that would help the community" explained rally organizer Tim Edstedt.

If you would like more information, or would like to sing the petition, click here.