Amtrak is far from being broke. It can always come up with the money for whatever "pet project" seems to be on the front burner at the time. Cases in point: (1.) When Ed Ellis wanted to turn the long hauls into mixed trains, wasn't it amazing that Amtrak could instantly come up with a large fleet of insulated boxcars and refrigerator cars? Where did THAT money come from? (2.) When Congress, prodded by the lobbying efforts of the National Rifle Association, decided that Amtrak needed to start transporting firearms, did you notice that a bunch of brand new, secure "floats" (those small trailers that are pulled up alongside baggage cars) miraculously appeared? Also, all baggage cars were instantly equipped with brand new storage lockers for the guns. Why is it that money for THOSE projects can miraculously appear, but there's no money for, say, a restored train to Vegas or re-instatement of the service between New Orleans and Jacksonville? Answer: Politics, my friend. Politics.