Amtrak won’t shut down if government does

The national passenger rail service would continue running trains even if the federal government shuts down Friday, officials from Amtrak said.
 
"Amtrak will continue normal operation of its national intercity and high-speed passenger rail network in the event of a short-term federal government shutdown," the company said in a statement.
 
"Passengers planning to travel on Amtrak trains in the Northeast Corridor and across the country in the coming days and weeks can be assured that Amtrak will remain open for business," the Amtrak statement said.

Congress subsidizes Amtrak operations. Though Republicans have sharply criticized the agency recently, its 2011 funding has not been a sticking point in negotiations between the House and Senate this week. The service is seeking $2.2 billion for 2012 and has enough to operate in the event of a short-term federal shutdown, spokesman Steve Kulm told The Hill.

"Amtrak has money beyond the federal investment," Kulm said. "We've got money from the last payment from the government, ticket revenue and other revenue."
 
President Obama has proposed putting Amtrak's funding under the Federal Railroad Administration instead of Congress.