According to the Anchorage Daily News, a version of the national transportation funding bill working its way through Congress right now would cut $30 million from the Alaska Railroad.
The particular version of the bill was passed by the U.S. Senate and has been sent to the House, whose version of the bill does not contain the cuts. The House bill, however, has had less support because it contains controversial provisions to open new areas to oil and gas exploration, including a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
"Such a dramatic cut, if enacted, would have a devastating impact on this state railroad," wrote the union that represents the Alaska Railroad's train crews in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Alaska Railroad CEO Chris Aadnesen told the Daily News that if the cut becomes law, it would have a drastic effect in Alaska.
In addition to putting railroad bonds in jeopardy of default, Aadnesen said such a loss of funding would require large changes.
"It would be a big blow to us. So we would have to restructure not only the workforce but the business model and that would include some fairly serious cuts in personnel," he said.
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