Missouri
New Missouri Budget Will Let Amtrak Trains Continue
By Bob Hudson
Apr 29, 2008 - 1:53:43 PM

On Tuesday, bean counters on both sides of the aisle realized the importance of passenger and trail traffic, and Amtrak will get the money to keep two passenger trains chugging back and forth across Missouri. House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to provide $8 million in subsidies for the twice daily trains that run between St. Louis and Kansas City with several stops in between.

In March, when the budget passed the House, members cut the subsidies nearly in half, which could have forced Amtrak to eliminate one of the trains. House members complained of frequent delays for Amtrak, because of congested freight travel along the tracks. Senators said eliminating one train only would have caused a larger drop in ridership and inconvenienced travelers.