The U.S.Dept. of Transportation and Amtrak have agreed in principle to an infusion of federal aid that would prevent a shutdown of service in July. In a statement issued the evening of June 26, DOT Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Amtrak board Chairman John Robert Smith said details were still being made final and no agreement had been signed.
They said the plan includes "immediate financial assistance" from DOT plus a joint Amtrak-Bush administration request for further aid from Congress. An Amtrak spokesman said he couldn't confirm published reports that the assistance would be a $100-million loan.