Vote Delayed on Amtrak Financing

Legislation crucial to Amtrak’s survival stalled as lawmakers struggled over a remaining dispute with just hours to go before Congress plans to recess for the year. Planned votes in the House were postponed as negotiators tried to hammer out a compromise on the future shape of Amtrak’s board of directors. The Senate last week passed a bill that would provide Amtrak with $3.4 billion in operating funds through 2000 and require management, labor and liability changes aimed at putting the perennially money-losing railway on a sound financial footing.