Delaware Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic vice presidential nominee, is a major supporter of Amtrak, the nation's passenger rail service.

But so are all three of Delaware's members of Congress and the other U.S. senator representing the state, Democrat Thomas R. Carper, who wields influence as chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Delaware politicians are Amtrak supporters because the state depends on the passenger railroad. It is the only state with no commercial air service. Amtrak is necessary for commuting and travel within the state and in the region.

But no other politician rides the rails as much as Sen. Biden, who commutes between Washington and Delaware every day when Congress is in session. He is co-sponsoring the Amtrak reauthorization bill, parts of which passed both houses of Congress and are awaiting a conference committee.

Amtrak's federal subsidy exceeded $1.3 billion for fiscal 2008, the Washington Post notes. In a fiscal 2009 budget request, President Bush advocated cutting more than $500 million from the railroad's budget. The proposal, the White House said, "reflects that Amtrak has taken few steps to align its business with the traveling public's demand for intercity rail service and that it consequently continues to hemorrhage taxpayer funds."

Some have noted that Amtrak will have an advocate in the White House if Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Biden are elected. High energy costs are changing America's transportation needs. No matter who is elected president and vice president, rail service will continue to be an important player in America's transportation picture.

Yet Congress should still press the railroad to improve its operations and to use taxpayer funds wisely.