(2003-07-29) -- Congressional Democrats have offered an alternative to Amtrak reforms proposed this week by President George Bush.

The Democrat plan would transfer the Amtrak budget to a new transit system called Amcanal.

The Amcanal proposal would re-open hundreds of unused canals nationwide, reviving a service which died when the railroads became popular in the 1800s. Canal boats are towed by mules which walk along a "towpath" next to the canal.

Amtrak has lost money every year since its creation in 1971, and currently loses about $1 billion of taxpayer money annually.

An unnamed Congressional aide said the Amcanal plan overcomes many of the problems faced by the failing Amtrak system.

"It's a smoother ride," said the aide. "Canal boats are less dangerous. Collisions are nearly impossible, and the boat can't de-canal. Plus it will create thousands of low-skill jobs for our Democrat constituents."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has already begun a campaign to prevent the use of mules as tow-animals on the new Amcanal system.