Amtrak has requested to the U.S. Congress $300 million dollar over the next five years to improve the Lake Shore Limited Line.

"We want to use those dollars to partner with communities to make strategic upgrades to train stations so that train stations along this route can accommodate more passenger trains," Director of Government Affairs at Amtrak, Derrick James said.

This year, All Aboard Erie has WABTEC, the second largest employer of Erie, to be a partner in upgrading the Lake Shore Limited Line.

"As a key player in the transportation industry WABTEC felt it was important to help connect the dots across the community and make sure that voice is really getting out there," Vice President of Program Management, Christie Drabic said.

So with this proposal in place, what is the plan to truly take Erie railroads from a desert to an oasis?

"We think that a successful rail passenger service is one that has multiple departures spread throughout the day," James said.

That's something that Erie does not have, only offering departure times of 2:16 and 7:24 a.m.

"Ultimately we would hope that that would lead to more convenient times and obviously more times in general," Drabic said.

Though the plan has not been approved, the next step is for Amtrak to get a full appropriation from Congress.

"I think there's some changes coming up," City of Erie Mayor Joe Schember said. "There's some changes we're going to be talking about here today have anxious to hear about them let's get together and make Erie a better place thank you very much."