White House wants to push Amtrak into bankruptcy
There have been periodic reports of Amtrak’s demise, but the Bush administration in its 2006 federal budget is proposing to end the rail line by choking off all its subsidies.
The reaction of Amtrak’s president and CEO David Gunn:
“Obviously, the proposal is irresponsible and a surprising disappointment. It doesn’t acknowledge all the hard work…done over the past two years to run a righter and better ship.” He said costs are more under control than ever.
The Bush budget proposal says that without subsidies Amtrak would have to go for Chapter 11 protection.
Amtrak lost more than $1 billion last year, according to a report by the US Transportation Department.
The Bush administration for four years has advocated breaking up Amtrak and selling off its routes to private rail operators.
But Mr Gunn pointed out that Amtrak has been threatened before but always has emerged with funding from the US Congress.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025