Mayor Bob Young said he will appeal to the community to support what he and other local leaders have been trying to convince Amtrak representatives of - Augusta's need for Amtrak service.

He said one of the things he will ask Augusta-area residents to do is write letters to the passenger rail company to show there is interest in having service here.

''This is not an Augusta project,'' he said. ''It's a regional project.''

Last month, a group of local officials traveled to Washington to meet with Amtrak representatives. The visit came after they learned Augusta was not included in the company's plans for future expansion.

Augusta officials have been pitching a number of possibilities, such as bus service from Augusta to another city with existing passenger rail service and rerouting the line directly into the city.

Several other cities in the Southeast, such as Atlanta; Macon; Savannah; Columbus, Ga.; Spartanburg, S.C.; and Columbia, now have Amtrak service.

Amtrak representatives will visit Augusta at the beginning of June to examine the city's existing rail infrastructure, Mr. Young said.

Reach Vicky Eckenrode at (706) 823-3227.