Eric Anderson is reporting for the Times Union Amtrak officials have been crossing the country in recent months, meeting with state transportation officials in places like Tennessee, Texas and Nevada as they make an effort to bring train service to various fast-growing population centers. Most of the focus is on new routes in the south and west, but New York state and the Capital Region likely would benefit from the effort as well. For example, Empire Corridor trains traveling west from Albany to Buffalo could continue on to Cleveland. Some could also continue to Detroit via Toledo. Other services would be new. Ohio officials, for example, are looking at restoring service between Cleveland and Cincinnati via Columbus and Dayton. Steve Strauss, executive director of the Empire State Passengers Association, said another route under discussion is Detroit to New York City. It was not clear whether the Wolverine, which now travels between Chicago and Detroit, would be expanded. The Wolverine last served New York City, Albany, Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago in 1967. Amtrak is also looking at restoring the corridor from New York City to Scranton, Pa., and possibly north to Binghamton, via the state's Southern Tier. Amtrak would like to work on some areas "really fast." Those include the Nashville to Atlanta route and the front range of the Rockies in Colorado. Congress still has to approve the plans. and Amtrak may get some resistance from the freight railroads over whose tracks most of its trains operate. But Amtrak officials are eager to get started. Read the full story in the Times Union.