BUSES APPARENTLY WON’T BE REPLACING TRAINS AFTER ALL ALONG PART OF AMTRAK’S SOUTHWEST CHIEF. THE SENATE HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AN AMENDMENT SPONSORED BY TOM UDALL AND MARTIN HEINRICH OF NEW MEXICO. IT PROVIDES 50 MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HELP MAINTAIN TRAIN SERVICE ON THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF.
THE MOVE EFFECTIVELY ENDS AMTRAK’S PROPOSAL TO USE BUSES BETWEEN ALBUQUERQUE AND DODGE CITY, KANSAS, TO SAVE MONEY. UDALL SAYS THAT WOULD HAVE DISRUPTED SERVICE AND DISCOURAGED RIDERS FROM TAKING THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF. HE SAYS THE EXTRA FUNDING PUTS THE TRAIN BACK ON A SOUND FINANCIAL TRACK.
