PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – If you’re one of a few thousand people in the area who commutes by rail to New York every day, you probably were disappointed last month when New Jersey Governor Chris Christie killed the idea of a new tunnel under the Hudson River.

New Jersey Transit went to Amtrak with hopes of reviving the multi-billion dollar ARC tunnel between Newark and midtown Manhattan that Christie said the state couldn’t afford.

Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole says without Amtrak the project cannot move forward, “There were some exploratory talks between the two parties to look into common project opportunities. Those talks have concluded and Amtrak’s not interested in furthering the ARC tunnel project.”

A printed statement shows Amtrak suggesting NJT needs to, “fully fund all costs associated with creating additional commuter train capacity.”

Their interest centered solely on furthering high speed rail along the Northeast corridor. Meanwhile, Washington wants $271 million plus back funds already spent by the state on the now dead project.

Reported By David Madden, KYW Newsradio