Sen. Moran to Meet with Amtrak

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran is putting pressure on Amtrak to commit to continue running the Southwest Chief passenger rail service that connects Chicago to Los Angeles with stops in Kansas.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Moran recently delayed confirming three nominees to Amtrak’s board of directors in an effort to push the national rail carrier to offer assurances that the line will operate for at least another year.
Amtrak’s president, Richard Anderson, agreed to meet with Moran and other lawmakers about the rail service’s future this month. Amtrak officials have considered suspending rail service from Dodge City to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and transitioning to buses.
The Republican senator helped secure $50 million in the federal budget for the Southwest Chief through September. Discussions in Congress about extending the grant are ongoing.