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     By a 52-46 vote on March 16, the Senate defeated an amendment to the budget resolution by Sen. Byrd of VA to increase the amount allowed for Amtrak from $365 million to $1.4 billion.

     Some Senators who are normally Amtrak supporters voted no because they decided that this amendment was not the right vehicle for augmenting the Amtrak allowance. Reportedly there are two other amendment not yet presented that also attempt to do this. Senators voting yes are listed below:

Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Byrd (D-WV) Cantwell (D-WA) Carper (D-DE) Chafee (R-RI) Clinton (D-NY) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Corzine (D-NJ) Dayton (D-MN) Dodd (D-CT) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Jeffords (I-VT) Johnson (D-SD) Kennedy (D-MA) Kerry (D-MA) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (D-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Mikulski (D-MD) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-NE) Obama (D-IL) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Salazar (D-CO) Sarbanes (D-MD) Schumer (D-NY) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Wyden (D-OR) 

SERVICE....Operated....Late...On Time %......Goal

Acela Express...671.....150......77.6%......94.0%
Auto Train.......56......32......42.9%......70.0%
Calif Zephyr.....56......54.......3.6%......70.0%
Capitol Ltd......56......38......32.1%......70.0%
Capitols........624.....113......81.9%......85.0%
Cardinal.........24.......6......75.0%......70.0%
Carolinian.......56......39......30.4%......85.0%
Cascades........307......97......68.4%......85.0%
City of NO.......56.......5......91.1%......70.0%
Clocker/Keyst...616.....125......79.7%......90.0%
Cst Starlight....56......23......58.9%......70.0%
Crescent.........56......18......67.9%......70.0%
Downeaster......224......18......92.0%......85.0%
Empire Svc......644.....150......76.7%......85.0%
Empire Builder..112......14......87.5%......70.0%
Heartland Flyer..56......13......76.8%......85.0%
Hiawatha........384......16......95.8%......85.0%
Hoosier State....32......20......37.5%......85.0%
Illinois/MO.....280......59......78.9%......85.0%
Lake Shore Ltd..112......58......48.2%......70.0%
Metroliner......100......14......86.0%......94.0%
Michigan........280.....135......51.8%......85.0%
Pac Surfliner...671.....185......72.4%......85.0%
Piedmont.........55......23......58.2%......85.0%
Regional.......1500.....255......83.0%......90.0%
San Joaquins....336.....190......43.5%......85.0%
Silver Service..168.....114......32.1%......70.0%
Southwest Chief..54......12......77.8%......70.0%
Sunset Ltd.......24......24.......0.0%......70.0%
Texas Eagle......56......15......73.2%......70.0%
Three Rivers.....56......15......73.2%......70.0%

ALL............7778....2030......73.9%......85.0%
Source: Gene Poon, Amtrak

   Oil industry analysts are seriously expecting a massive gasoline price increase soon, as early as the latter part of March. The increase would be approximately 25 cents.

   Greyhound continues to eliminate cities from its route system.
   The government is concerned about possible hand-held missile attacks upon airliners.
   The White House wants to kill off Amtrak by forcing it into bankruptcy.
   Can any other threats to American mobility be foreseen?

AMTRAK FUNDING: AN ANALYSIS
By Carl Fowler
New Sunset Limited Schedule for Mar 8

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