An appropriations bill passed in the U.S. Senate today Wednesday would help fund the embattled Southwest Chief train line, which makes stops through Kansas on its route between Chicago and Los Angeles.
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, and Tom Udall, a Colorado Democrat, added an amendment onto the bill earlier this week to set aside $50 million in new funding for the Southwest Chief.
The amendment would also compel Amtrak to follow through on funding its portion of repairs along the line.
Moran has been vocal about keeping the train line operating. Last week he and other senators along the Southwest Chief’s route sent a letter to Amtrak’s CEO, Richard Anderson, expressing deep concern about Amtrak’s lack of commitment to the train line.
“As the divide between urban and rural communities in America continues to expand, passenger rail services like the Southwest Chief are invaluable in connecting Kansans to the rest of the country while also bringing visitors from out of state to our local communities,” said Moran in a press release following the Senate’s vote to pass the bill and his amendment.
In recent months, Amtrak had told Congress that the line lost $50 million last year and threatened to shut down service in Colorado and Western Kansas — effectively splitting the route, so Kansas trains would still run to Chicago but not to the West.
An accompanying appropriations bill passed in the U.S. House in May. The two bills must now be reconciled.