Report analyzes Amtrak's impact

The decision by the House Appropriations Committee to fund only $900 million for Amtrak has found opposition in Congress. A letter signed by 219 U.S. representatives, one more than the majority of 218, supporting the full $1.8 billion request has been sent to all members of the House.

Montana's U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns has joined three other Republican senators, bill author Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, Trent Lott of Mississippi and Olympia Snowe of Maine, in sponsoring a bill that would provide Amtrak with $60 billion over six years.

"In rural areas like we have in Montana, transportation opti...