Passenger rail service in our region could come to an end as soon at October. That's the deadline for the state to determine whether it will pick up the $5.7 million dollar tab to keep it running.

It all comes down to a law passed in 2008 that requires the state to pay for rail service routes less than 750 miles. That includes Amtrak's Pennsylvanian. At about 440 miles, it runs from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, making four stops in the region, including Altoona and Johnstown.

"It is difficult to justify on its face, just between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg," said PennDOT spokesperson Erin Waters-Trasatt. "But we do recognize that there are communities along that line that it's very important to."

For UPJ student Miesha Wiley, taking Amtrak is the safest and most convenient way for her to get home to Pittsburgh.

"I normally use it to go home because I don't have a car right now," she said. "It's just easier and it's a lot cheaper to get back home."

6 News looked up the prices on Monday. By train from Johnstown to Pittsburgh, it costs $15. By Greyhound bus, $35, with a $2.50 discount if you buy online. And by plane, well that's not possible, unless you want to first fly to D.C. and get a connector to Pittsburgh.

To keep the rail line between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg running, it will cost the state close to $6 million a year. Federal law requires the decision to be made by Oct. 1.

"That sounds like a lot of money, but it's really not very much money when you're talking about transportation," said Michael Alexander, president for Western Pennsylvanians for Passenger Rail. "Transportation is expensive and if you want it, you have to be willing to pay for it."

"We're still working with Amtrak and ultimately we'll make the decision here at PennDOT," said Waters-Trasatt. "But it's in concert with the administrators and local and elected officials. A lot of people are keeping their eyes on this and involved in the discussion."

Amtrak said ridership on the Pennsylvanian as a whole was actually up 2.2 percent last year.

Amtrak serviced close to 24,000 passengers in Johnstown and close to 27, 000 in Altoona.

There is no word on when a decision will be made at the state level.