Join thousands of Amtrak passengers and rail advocates across the country by telling your Congressman to
Save Our Trains!

     Despite a record-breaking two years in service, the Lynchburg-DC Northeast Regional will stop in its tracks if the US House Transportation Budget plan to eliminate all state-supported Amtrak service is enacted.

     The US House of Representatives Transportation Appropriations bill for 2012 prohibits the use of federal funds provided to Amtrak to fund the operation of state-supported trains.

     According to Amtrak, if enacted by Congress, this budget will eliminate nearly 150 weekday state-supported trains — including the Lynchburg-DC Northeast Regional — and "... negatively impact the more than nine million passengers who ride those trains each year and the communities they live in."

     In addition, the budget reduces overall Amtrak funding by 60%, a measure that would cripple the nation's only source of intercity passenger rail.

     This budget, if enacted, would take effect November 18, 2011, when last year's budget is set to expire. 

     The 15 states which provide state-supported Amtrak service are: California, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Take Action NOW!

We can't stop this plan to de-fund our trains without your help. Please contact your Congressional representative and tell them to Save Our Trains! 

Contact your Congressional representative. Each one listed below represents a district in the Lynchburg rail corridor. Click on the Congressman's name and Cut and paste the following message:

Dear Congressman [insert name]. As a user and supporter of the Lynchburg-DC train, I ask that you oppose any effort to eliminate regional and state sponsored Amtrak services as stated in the House Draft FY 2012 Transportation Budget, and to continue to invest in the federal intercity passenger rail program. Thank you. [Sign your name]  

Representative Robert Hurt

Senator Jim Webb

Don't know who your Congressman is? Use this link to find out, then click through and send them your Cut and Paste message. 

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Thank you,

Meredith Richards
Chairman
Piedmont Rail Coalition

Thank you for helping to Save Our Trains!

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The Federal Funding Issue in a Nutshell

• The US House Appropriations Committee FY2012 budget reduces Amtrak's operating budget by 60% and contains language specifically prohibiting Amtrak from supporting the operation of state-sponsored trains.

• According to Amtrak, the budget language combined with the 60% reduction would shut down Amtrak's ability to continue to run the more than 150 state-sponsored services it currently operates and "...negatively impact the more than nine million passengers who ride those trains each year and the communities they live in."

• This applies to the Lynchburg-DC Northeast Regional and to Richmond's Regional trains — 64% of all passenger rail service in Virginia.

• The House budget also de-funds the High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail fund authorized in 2008 for preparing our nation's infrastructure for faster 21st rail.

• The US Senate has passed a budget that does not contain these provisions. It retains Amtrak funding at last year's levels and omits the language on state-supported services.
   
  

These bills are moving through Congress now. If the House Bill prevails, it will take effect November 18, 2011, when last year's budget is set to expire.

There is not much time!