Amtrak Not Planning On Service Cuts Heading Into New Fiscal Year
(CBS) -- If you're ticketed on an Amtrak train to or from downstate points over the July 4 weekend, don't worry -- your train will be running, despite the state's fiscal crisis and impending funding cuts.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has made no secret of his intention to cut Amtrak state support from $42 million in the current fiscal year to $26 million in the fiscal year that begins Wednesday.
Proponents of Amtrak service, notably the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, have warned that budget cuts to Amtrak would be counterproductive and have undertaken a public campaign to reverse the cuts proposed by the freshman governor.
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But to date, the budget impasse has left a series of proposed spending cuts in limbo. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says the state of Illinois has not notified Amtrak of any changes in funding.
"We have not been given formal direction to make service changes or to develop scenarios based on a reduced funding level," Magliari said.
Accordingly, Amtrak plans no service changes coinciding with the state's new fiscal year or the Independence Day weekend.
"It is not unusual to begin a state fiscal year with unresolved matters," Magliari said.
Rauner is trying to close a budget imbalance he estimates at more than $3 billion.
Chicago Union Station remains the fourth busiest station on Amtrak's national network. In FY 2013, Amtrak's state-supported Chicago-St. Louis Lincoln Service -- the line slated for 110 mile-an-hour operation over much of its route -- was its 10th busiest corridor service, carrying 665,465 riders.
