Lawmakers request funds to keep Southwest Chief running

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Lawmakers have devised a new plan to keep the Southwest Chief running through New Mexico.

U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall are fighting to stop Amtrak from replacing some services with buses.

The train currently runs through Raton, Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Gallup and costs $4 million to maintain the track.

Senators are now asking the federal government for $50 million to maintain the service.

That funding would come from the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development budget in 2019.