Monday, September 30, 1996

Senate Bill Would Retain Eagle, Other Amtrak Lines 6 More Months

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Giving the Texas Eagle a new funding route, House and Senate conferees on Saturday agreed to provide $22.5 million for a six-month extension of the service and three other endangered passenger train schedules.

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison worked with Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Mark Hatfield to include the funds in an omnibus spending bill. The Amtrak board had voted earlier this month to terminate the four lines on Nov. 10.

"These funds give Amtrak the money it needs to keep the Eagle running through May 10, 1997, while a more permanent solution can be found," Mrs. Hutchison said.

Missy Tessier, a Hutchison spokeswoman, said it was the second solution the senator had proposed to keep the line running between St. Louis and San Antonio.

The Texas Republican, chairwoman of the Senate Commerce surface transportation subcommittee, had proposed allowing Texas and the other states targeted for loss of rail service to use federal air quality money - if they choose - to keep the lines running temporarily.

But the latest measure would provide federal funds directly for a six-month reprieve of the line.

"This funding will enable the leaders of local communities which want Amtrak service to continue to work with the state Legislature to find a way to extend the service beyond May of 1997," Mrs. Hutchison said.

One of the other lines, the Pioneer, runs through Hatfield's home state of Oregon. But the added funding is a "temporary fix," the Republican said earlier.

"It will be Amtrak's decision how to use the money," Ms. Tessier said. "But Mrs. Hutchison has assurances that it will be used toward keeping the Eagle open."