At a news conference at the Trenton train station, state officials said Rep. Rush Holt, D-Hopewell, sponsored the amendment raising the total spending on rail security to $175 million, of which New Jersey should get around $6.5 million.

"I can assure you it will be well-spent," Holt said. "It will give riders greater confidence."

The funding will be directed to K-9 teams, alarm systems targeting hazardous substances, radiation pagers and other defensive systems for trains and buses. New Jersey operates the third-largest statewide transit system in the nation.

New Jersey officials also took Amtrak to task for forcing New Jersey commuters to sit in idled rail cars while a contractor trimmed trees and bushes in Pennsylvania.

"I think they have gotten the message," Holt said.

"They did get the message from me," said NJ Transit Executive Director George Warrington.

Amtrak and NJ Transit trains using the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line were delayed for more than an hour during the morning commute. One of four power lines serving the Northeast Corridor failed, two were shut for tree-trimming, and the fourth overloaded.

Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said Wednesday the trees and bushes had to be cut in daylight hours, though this would no longer be conducted during heavy-commute periods.

Black also confirmed the tree-trimming had been done by outside contractors, which he said was common for Amtrak.

This irked Kevin Hussey, legislative director of the union that does such work for the railroads, the Brotherhood of Maintenance-of-Way Employees.

Appearing with Holt and Warrington, Hussey said the group would not have caused power to be reduced during rush hour, a point disputed by Black.

The rail-line spokesman said that had the rail employees been assigned the job, they would have done it whenever management dictated.