Missouri budget to continue Amtrak trains

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Amtrak gets the money to keep two passenger trains chugging back and forth across Missouri.

House and Senate budget negotiators agreed Tuesday to provide $8 million in subsidies for the twice daily trains that run between St. Louis and Kansas City with several stops in between.

When the budget passed the House in March, members had cut the subsidies nearly in half. That could have forced Amtrak to eliminate one of the trains. House member complained of frequent delays for Amtrak, because of congested freight travel along the tracks.

Senators said eliminating one train only would have caused a larger drop in ridership and inconvenienced travelers.