House rejects cut in Amtrak's funding

WASHINGTON -- The House moved yesterday to reject a big proposed cut in Amtrak subsidies that would have led to major cutbacks in rail service.

By voice vote during debate on a spending bill funding Amtrak's budget, the House approved an amendment by Steven LaTourette, Republican of Ohio, to add $626 million for Amtrak, to bring its budget up to the current level of $1.2 billion.

The Republican-controlled Appropriations Committee had proposed spending $550 million for Amtrak and eliminating 18 routes, including every cross-country run and all long-distance runs outside the Northeast. Those runs include the City of New Orleans route between New Orleans and Chicago, and the Empire Builder across the Northern Plains.

The House later voted 269-152 to restore subsidies for 18 routes that lose more than $30 per passenger per ride.

Amtrak supporters said that without the additional funding the railroad would have to shut down.

''To slash Amtrak's operating budget and effectively strand millions of passengers is irresponsible," LaTourette said. ''The bill before us today . . . would force Amtrak to shut down all operations and declare bankruptcy."

Republican Representative Joe Knollenberg of Michigan said it is impossible to keep pouring money into money-losing Amtrak routes. ''Like an overly spoiled child, Amtrak needs discipline, boundaries, and restraint," he said.

President Bush proposed eliminating Amtrak's operating subsidy and setting aside $360 million to run trains along the Northeast Corridor if the railroad were to cease operating.

The administration contends that eliminating operating subsidies would leave the passenger rail system with stronger routes and entice subsidies from local governments. But Amtrak runs trains through nearly every state, giving it great support in Congress.