McCain position on Amtrak analyzed

WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- U.S. presidential candidate John McCain may have to answer for his Senate record on funding Amtrak, The Boston Globe said Tuesday.

The Arizona Republican and presumptive GOP nominee has consistently opposed proposals to upgrade the nation's passenger rail lines. As chairman of the Senate Science, Commerce and Transportation committee, McCain in 2000 killed $10 billion in capital funding for Amtrak, denouncing it as a symbol of government waste. "There's only two parts of the country that can support a viable rail system -- the Northeast and the far West," he said.

McCain's rail position may soon get more campaign scrutiny as higher gas prices help increase public demand for alternative, public transportation, said the Globe analysis. The House and Senate have passed bills calling for new investments in passenger rail offering 80 cents for every 20 cents spent by the states on infrastructure improvements.

Likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois is a co-sponsor of the Senate bill. His Web site says he is committed to the development of high speed rail, noting: "In many parts of the country, Amtrak is the only form of reliable transportation."

By contrast, McCain includes no mention of passenger rail travel on his Web site.