After hurtling toward a potential fiscal disaster, Amtrak has been spared dramatic cuts that the railroad previously warned could have led to service reductions or suspensions.

New York Republicans were among the most outspoken lawmakers pushing back on the potential spending reductions, which were proposed by their own GOP colleagues. 

Under the initial House GOP plan, Amtrak faced a roughly two-thirds cut year-over-year. The railroad’s busy Northeast Corridor alone would have seen its funding slashed by roughly $1 billion.

What You Need To Know

  • This past week, Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed a budget bill that largely maintains the status quo for Amtrak’s operational funding

  • Under the initial House GOP plan, Amtrak faced a roughly two-thirds cut year-over-year, which the railroad warned could have led to service reductions or suspensions

  • Jim Mathews,  the president of the Rail Passengers Association, offered praise for New York’s freshmen Republicans, who publicly demanded their own party rethink the proposed cuts

But now, that Republican proposal has been sidetracked. 

This past week, Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed a budget bill that largely maintains the status quo for Amtrak’s operational funding.

Rail Passengers Association President Jim Mathews, who described the initial House GOP spending plan as "draconian," said the final budget bill is one they can certainly live with.

“Overall, this is not a bad outcome considering where we started,” Mathews said. “If you compare this to the bill that was circulating last summer and into the fall - which would have been just disastrous on all counts and it was effectively a kill Amtrak bill - this is much, much better.”

Mathews gives credit, in part, to New York’s freshmen Republicans, who publicly demanded their own party rethink the proposed cuts and even forced House leaders to punt a planned vote on a housing and transportation spending bill.

Those lawmakers say the finalized budget is much better for train riders back home.

“We banded together, we advocated together, we stood up for our constituents even against our own party,” Suffolk County Congressman Nick LaLota said.

“I think right now, the impact on services would be zero. I think it's more of administration and we're told that it won't affect the rider experience,” Nassau County Rep. Anthony D’Esposito said.

The spending in question focuses primarily on Amtrak’s operating costs.

It is separate from the billions of dollars being pumped into the northeast region for construction projects, like helping advance the tunnel under the Hudson River. That money has already been approved.