CONCORD - The New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority will live on, after an override attempt in the House failed to get enough votes.

The House voted 231 to 128 in favor of an override -- short of the two-thirds needed -- of Gov. John Lynch's veto of HB 218.

The bill would have greatly curtailed the powers of the rail authority, which is charged with studying the feasibility of a passenger rail line between Nashua to as far north as Concord.

Supporters of the override argued that building and operating a rail line would be too costly to justify the expense to taxpayers.

Proponents of the authority cited support from the business community, including chambers of commerce in Manchester and Nashua.

In a statement Peter Burling, chair of the NH Rail Transit Authority, praised the vote, saying in a statement: ”We pledge to the Legislature we recognize our job is to complete the study and give them the information they need to evaluate the Capitol Rail Project. We are committed to getting the job done.”