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Earlier this week, the New England Council urged Congress to fund Amtrak at its requested $1.5 billion level in fiscal-year 2005. Council members believe Amtrak’s status as an important component in New England’s regional transportation system is "again threatened" because of underfunding.

The Senate has proposed funding Amtrak at $1.2 billion; the House, $900 million.

The railroad is in the midst of a five-year capital improvement plan designed to bring its equipment and infrastructure to a state of good repair. Some of Amtrak’s most significant infrastructure needs are in New England, according to council officials — the Thames River, Niantic River and Connecticut River bridges are at least 85 years old and need to be replaced. Because 40 Amtrak trains operate over the bridges daily, passenger-rail service between Boston and New York would be affected if a bridge is closed.

The New England Council is part of the recently formed Amtrak Business Coalition, which comprises more than 50 business groups and companies throughout the East Coast.