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On Oct. 3, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) plans to withhold track-maintenance and related services from Amtrak to protest "Congress’ and the White House’s failure to appropriate sufficient funds to maintain Amtrak services," according to a prepared statement.

BMWE officials expect the one-day protest to underscore the national passenger railroad’s importance to the North American economy and draw attention to Amtrak’s deteriorating infrastructure.

Amtrak requested $1.8 billion in funding for fiscal-year 2004. The House of Representatives recently approved a $900 million appropriation and the Senate plans soon to vote on a $1.35 billion appropriation.

"The funding levels being proposed mean that the railroad cannot be safely maintained," said BMWE General Chairman Jed Dodd. "The lives of the traveling public are being gambled with as the politicians continue to play their games with Amtrak."