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{{Short description|American intercity passenger rail operator}}
{{other uses|Amtrak (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox rail
| railroad_name    = National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
| logo             = Amtrak logo.svg
| system_map       = Amtrak System Map.svg
| map_caption      = Amtrak system as of August 2025
| image            = Southwest Chief at Laguna, February 2020.jpg
| image_caption    = The ''[[Southwest Chief]]'', one of Amtrak's [[Amtrak Long Distance|long-distance]] trains in the [[Western United States]], in [[Laguna, New Mexico]]
| hq_city          = 1 [[Massachusetts Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Massachusetts Ave.]] NW<br />[[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| key_people       =  {{plainlist| 
* Roger Harris ([[President (corporate title)|President]])<ref>{{cite press release |last1=Weinberg |first1=Harrison |title=Amtrak Appoints Roger Harris President and Gerhard Williams Executive Vice President of Service Delivery Operations |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2022/06/amtrak-appoints-roger-harris-president-and-gerhard-williams-executive-vice-president-of-service-delivery-operations/ |publication-place=[[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] |publisher=Amtrak |date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703063622/https://media.amtrak.com/2022/06/amtrak-appoints-roger-harris-president-and-gerhard-williams-executive-vice-president-of-service-delivery-operations/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
| marks            = AMTK and AMTZ<br />[[Airline codes|IATA code]]: 2V
| locale           = {{indented plainlist|
* [[Contiguous United States]] (except [[South Dakota]] and [[Wyoming]])
* [[British Columbia]], [[Ontario]], and [[Quebec]] in [[Canada]]
}}
| start_year       = May 1, 1971
| end_year         = present<ref name="winner"/><ref name="last court test"/>
| predecessors     = [[List of railroads eligible to participate in the formation of Amtrak#Participating railroads|20 privately operated intercity passenger rail systems]]
| gauge            = {{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| electrification  = {{indented plainlist|
* [[Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system|12 kV, 25 Hz AC]]: [[Northeast Corridor]] (Washington–New York) and [[Keystone Corridor]]
* [[Electrification of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad|12.5 kV, 60 Hz AC]]: Northeast Corridor (New York–New Haven)
* [[Amtrak's 60 Hz traction power system|25 kV, 60 Hz AC]]: Northeast Corridor (New Haven–Boston)}}
| length           = {{indented plainlist|
* Routes: {{cvt|21400|mi}}
* Track owned: {{cvt|623|mi}}
}}
| website          = {{Official URL}}
}}

The '''National Railroad Passenger Corporation''', [[Trade name|doing business as]] '''Amtrak''' ({{IPAc-en|'|æ|m|t|r|æ|k}}; {{reporting mark|AMTK|AMTZ|parens=no}}), is the national [[Passenger train|passenger railroad]] company of the United States. It operates [[intercity rail]] service in every [[contiguous United States|contiguous U.S. state]] except for [[Wyoming]] and [[South Dakota]] as well as three [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian provinces]]. ''Amtrak'' is a [[portmanteau]] of the words ''America'' and ''track.''

Founded in 1971 as a [[Quasi-corporation|quasi-public corporation]] to operate many U.S. passenger rail routes, Amtrak receives a combination of state and federal subsidies but is managed as a [[for-profit corporation|for-profit organization]]. The company's headquarters is located one block west of [[Washington Union Station|Union Station]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/statefactsheets/DC17.pdf |title=Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2017 District of Columbia |date=November 2017 |publisher=Amtrak Government Affairs |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230115550/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/statefactsheets/DC17.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Amtrak is headed by a Board of Directors, two of whom are the [[United States Secretary of Transportation|secretary of transportation]] and [[chief executive officer]] (CEO) of Amtrak, while the other eight members are nominated to serve a term of five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title49-section24302&num=0&edition=prelim|title=US Code, Title 49, Section 24302: Board of Directors|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]|access-date=April 26, 2023|archive-date=April 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426122011/https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title49-section24302&num=0&edition=prelim|url-status=live}}</ref>

Amtrak's network includes over 500 stations along {{convert|21,400|mi|km|sigfig=2}} of track. It directly owns approximately {{convert|623|mi|km}} of this track and operates an additional {{cvt|132|miles|km}} of track; the remaining mileage is over rail lines owned by other railroad companies. While most track speeds are limited to {{convert|79|mph|abbr=on}} or less, several lines have been upgraded to support top speeds of {{convert|110|mph|abbr=on}}, and parts of the [[Northeast Corridor]] support top speeds of {{convert|160|mph|abbr=on}}.

In [[fiscal year]] 2025, Amtrak served 34.5 million passengers and had $2.7 billion in adjusted ticket revenue, with more than 22,100 employees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vantuono |first=William C. |date=2025-11-18 |title=For Amtrak, ‘A Year of Records’ |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/for-amtrak-a-year-of-records/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=Railway Age |language=en-US}}</ref> Nearly 87,000 passengers ride more than 300 Amtrak trains daily.<ref name="FY18 profile" /> Nearly two-thirds of passengers come from the [[Metropolitan statistical area|10 largest metropolitan areas]] and 83% of passengers travel on routes shorter than {{convert|400|miles|km|round=5}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2013/03/01%20passenger%20rail%20puentes%20tomer/passenger%20rail%20puentes%20tomer |title=A New Alignment: Strengthening America's Commitment to Passenger Rail |last1=Puentes |first1=Robert |first2=Adie |last2=Tomer |first3=Joseph |last3=Kane |date=March 2013 |access-date=January 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203044600/http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2013/03/01%20passenger%20rail%20puentes%20tomer/passenger%20rail%20puentes%20tomer |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |agency=The Brookings Institution}}</ref>

==History==
===Private passenger service===
[[File:The Congressional Pennsylvania Railroad.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]'s ''Congressional'' in the 1960s]]

In 1916, 98% of all commercial intercity travelers in the United States moved by rail, and the remaining 2% moved by [[Inland waterways of the United States|inland waterways]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Statistics of the United States|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/1960/compendia/hist_stats_colonial-1957/hist_stats_colonial-1957-chQ.pdf|access-date=November 13, 2017|website=U.S. Census|date=1957|archive-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218120745/http://www2.census.gov/library/publications/1960/compendia/hist_stats_colonial-1957/hist_stats_colonial-1957-chQ.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Nearly 42&nbsp;million passengers used railways as primary transportation.<ref name="Stover-1997-219" /> Passenger trains were owned and operated by the same privately owned companies that operated freight trains.<ref>{{Harvnb|Carper|1968|pp=112–113}}</ref> As the 20th century progressed, patronage declined in the face of competition from [[bus]]es, [[air travel]], and the [[car]]. New [[streamliner|streamlined]] diesel-powered trains, such as the ''[[Pioneer Zephyr]]'', were popular with the traveling public but could not reverse the trend.<ref>{{Harvnb|Solomon|2004|pp=49–56}}</ref> By 1940, railroads held 67 percent of commercial passenger-miles in the United States. In real terms, passenger-miles had fallen by 40% since 1916, from 42&nbsp;billion to 25&nbsp;billion.<ref name="Stover-1997-219" />

Traffic surged during [[World War II]], aided by troop movement and [[Rationing in the United States|gasoline rationing]]. The railroad's market share surged to 74% in 1945, with a massive 94&nbsp;billion passenger-miles.<ref>{{Harvnb|Stover|1997|pp=219–220}}</ref> After the war, railroads rejuvenated their overworked and neglected passenger fleets with fast and luxurious streamliners.<ref>{{Harvnb|Solomon|2004|p=154}}</ref> These new trains brought only temporary relief to the overall decline.<ref>{{Harvnb|Solomon|2004|p=161}}</ref> Even as postwar travel exploded, passenger travel percentages of the overall market share fell to 46% by 1950, and then 32% by 1957.<ref name="Stover-1997-219" /> The railroads had lost money on passenger service since the [[Great Depression]], but deficits reached $723&nbsp;million in 1957. For many railroads, these losses threatened financial viability.<ref>{{Harvnb|Stover|1997|p=220}}</ref>

The causes of this decline were heavily debated. The [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]] and [[airport]]s, both funded by the government, competed directly with the railroads, which, unlike the airline, bus, and trucking companies, paid for their own infrastructure.<ref>{{Harvnb|Saunders|2001|pp=106–107}}</ref> [[1950s American automobile culture|American car culture]] was also on the rise in the post–World War II years. [[Progressive Era]] rate regulation limited the railroads' ability to turn a profit.<ref>{{Harvnb|Saunders|2001|pp=32–33}}</ref> Railroads also faced antiquated work rules and inflexible relationships with trade unions. To take one example, workers continued to receive a day's pay for {{convert|100|to|150|mile|adj=on}} workdays. Streamliners covered that in two hours.<ref>{{Harvnb|Stover|1997|p=222}}</ref>

Matters approached a crisis in the 1960s. Passenger service route-miles fell from {{convert|107000|mi}} in 1958 to {{convert|49000|mi}} in 1970, the last full year of private operation.<ref>{{Harvnb|Stover|1997|p=228}}</ref> The diversion of most [[United States Post Office Department]] mail from passenger trains to trucks, airplanes, and freight trains in late 1967 deprived those trains of badly needed revenue.<ref>{{Harvnb|McCommons|2009|pp=150–151}}</ref> In direct response, the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] filed to discontinue 33 of its remaining 39 trains, ending almost all passenger service on one of the largest railroads in the country.<ref>{{Harvnb|Glischinski|1997|p=96}}</ref> The equipment the railroads had ordered after World War II was now 20 years old, worn out, and in need of replacement.<ref>{{Harvnb|Saunders|2003|p=55}}</ref>

===Formation===
{{see also|List of railroads eligible to participate in the formation of Amtrak}}
{{Infobox U.S. legislation
| shorttitle = Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970
| longtitle = An act to provide financial assistance for and establishment of a national rail passenger system, to provide for the modernization of railroad passenger equipment, to authorize the prescribing of minimum standards for railroad passenger service, to amend section 13a of the [[Interstate Commerce Act]], and for other purposes.
| colloquialacronym = 
| nickname = 
| enacted by = 91st
| effective date = 
| cite public law = {{uspl|91|518}}
| cite statutes at large = {{usstat|84|1327}}
| acts amended = [[Interstate Commerce Act]]
| acts repealed = 
| title amended = <!--US code titles changed-->
| sections created = <!--{{USC}} can be used-->
| sections amended = 
| leghisturl = https://www.congress.gov/bill/91st-congress/house-bill/17849
| introducedin = House
| introducedbill = {{USBill|91|H|17849}}
| introducedby = 
| introduceddate = May 27, 1970
| committees = [[United States House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce|House Interstate and Foreign Commerce]]
| passedbody1 = House
| passeddate1 = October 14, 1970
| passedvote1 = 
| passedbody2 = Senate
| passeddate2 = October 14, 1970
| passedvote2 = 
| conferencedate = 
| passedbody3 = 
| passeddate3 = 
| passedvote3 = 
| agreedbody3 = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreeddate3 = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreedvote3 = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreedbody4 = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| agreeddate4 = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| agreedvote4 = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| passedbody4 = 
| passeddate4 = 
| passedvote4 = 
| signedpresident = [[Richard Nixon]]
| signeddate = October 30, 1970
| amendments = 
| SCOTUS cases = 
}}

As passenger service declined, various proposals were brought forward to rescue it. The 1961 Doyle Report proposed that the private railroads pool their services into a single body.<ref>{{Harvnb|Saunders|2001|p=124}}</ref> Similar proposals were made in 1965 and 1968 but failed to attract support. The federal government passed the [[High Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965]] to fund pilot programs in the [[Northeast Corridor]], but this did nothing to address passenger deficits. In late 1969, multiple proposals emerged in the [[United States Congress]], including equipment subsidies, route subsidies, and, lastly, a "quasi-public corporation" to take over the operation of intercity passenger trains. Matters were brought to a head on June 21, 1970, when the [[Penn Central Transportation Company|Penn Central]], the largest railroad in the [[Northeastern United States]] and teetering on bankruptcy, filed to discontinue 34 of its passenger trains.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|pp=1–3}}</ref>

In October 1970, Congress passed, and President [[Richard Nixon]] signed into law (against the objections of most of his advisors),<ref name="enoamtrak50-1">{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Jeff |title=Amtrak at 50: The Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 |url=https://enotrans.org/article/amtrak-at-50-the-rail-passenger-service-act-of-1970/ |publisher=Eno Center for Transportation |access-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519161647/https://enotrans.org/article/amtrak-at-50-the-rail-passenger-service-act-of-1970/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the '''Rail Passenger Service Act'''.<ref>{{USStatute|91|518|84|1327|1970|October|30|HR|17849}}</ref> Proponents of the bill, led by the [[National Association of Railroad Passengers]] (NARP), sought government funding to ensure the continuation of passenger trains. They conceived the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (NRPC), a [[Quasi-corporation|quasi-public corporation]] that would be managed as a [[for-profit corporation|for-profit organization]], but which would receive taxpayer funding and assume operation of intercity passenger trains<ref name="FY18 profile" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Thoms|1973|pp=38–39}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Land |first=John S. |date=October 17, 1971 |title=Amtrak isn't railroading improvements through to passengers |page=8A |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press |location=Oregon |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B6FWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6761%2C3461756 |url-status=live |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510054858/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B6FWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6761%2C3461756 |archive-date=May 10, 2021}}</ref> – while many involved in drafting the bill did not believe the NRPC would actually be profitable, this was necessary in order for the White House and more conservative members of Congress to support the bill.<ref name="enoamtrak50-1" />

[[File:PCPOST_19710601_Amtrak.png|right|thumb|[[Penn Central Transportation Company|Penn Central Railroad]]'s employee publication announcing the inauguration of Amtrak on May 1, 1971. Penn Central Amtrak routes are listed.]]
There were several key provisions:<ref>{{Harvnb|Thoms|1973|pp=39–42}}</ref>
* Any railroad operating intercity passenger service could contract with the NRPC, thereby joining the national system.
* The United States federal government, through the [[United States Secretary of Transportation|Secretary of Transportation]], would own all of the NRPC's [[Issued shares|issued]] and [[Shares outstanding|outstanding]] [[preferred stock]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Management discussion Fiscal 2019 |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/financial/Amtrak-Management-Discussion-Analysis-Audited-Financial-Statements-FY19.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625182014/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/financial/Amtrak-Management-Discussion-Analysis-Audited-Financial-Statements-FY19.pdf |archive-date=June 25, 2020 |access-date=June 23, 2020}}</ref> 
* Participating railroads bought into the NRPC using a formula based on their recent intercity passenger losses. The purchase price could be satisfied either by cash or rolling stock; in exchange, the railroads received NRPC [[common stock]].
* Any participating railroad was freed of the obligation to operate intercity passenger service after May 1, 1971, except for those services chosen by the [[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]] (DOT) as part of a "basic system" of service and paid for by NRPC using its federal funds.
* Railroads that chose not to join the NRPC system were required to continue operating their existing passenger service until 1975, at which time they could pursue the customary [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] (ICC) approval process for any discontinuance or alteration to the service.

Of the 26 railroads still offering intercity passenger service in 1970, only six declined to join the NRPC.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|pp=7–8}}</ref>

Nearly everyone involved expected the experiment to be short-lived. The Nixon administration and many Washington insiders viewed the NRPC as a politically expedient way for the President and Congress to give passenger trains a "last hurrah" as demanded by the public. They expected the NRPC to quietly disappear as public interest waned.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Luberoff|first=David|title=Amtrak and the States|journal=Governing Magazine|page=85|date=November 1996}}</ref> After ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine exposed the manufactured mismanagement in 1974, [[Louis W. Menk]], chairman of the [[Burlington Northern Railroad]], remarked that the story was undermining the scheme to dismantle Amtrak.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Trains|date=March 2009|title=Trains formula for fixing Amtrak|first=Rush Jr. |last=Loving}}</ref> Proponents also hoped that government intervention would be brief and that Amtrak would soon be able to support itself. Neither view had proved to be correct; popular support allowed Amtrak to continue in operation longer than critics imagined, while financial results made passenger train service returning to private railroad operations infeasible.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Casey|first=Robert J.|date=January 5, 1978|title=Federal Money, Priorities and the Railroads|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gJxRAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA5|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002163944/https://books.google.com/books?id=gJxRAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA5|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Forrester|first=Steve|date=June 1, 1984|title=Amtrak funding no longer a battle|work=[[Eugene Register-Guard]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8uhVAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA8|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002163948/https://books.google.com/books?id=8uhVAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA8|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Selection of initial routes===
[[File:Amtrak logo (1971–2000).svg|thumb|"Headless Arrow" Amtrak Logo used from 1971 to 2000]]
The Rail Passenger Service Act gave the Secretary of Transportation, at that time [[John A. Volpe]], thirty days to produce an initial draft of the endpoints of the routes the NRPC would be required by law to serve for four years. On November 24 Volpe presented his initial draft consisting of 27 routes to Nixon, which he believed would make a $24-million profit by 1975. The [[Office of Management and Budget]] believed Volpe and the DOT's analysis was far too optimistic, with director [[George Shultz]] arguing to cut the number of routes by around half. Nixon agreed with Shultz, and the public draft presented by Volpe on November 30 consisted of only 16 routes.<ref name="enoamtrak50-2">{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Jeff |title=Amtrak at 50: Defining the "Basic System" of Service Routes |url=https://enotrans.org/article/amtrak-at-50-defining-the-basic-system-of-service-routes/ |publisher=Eno Center for Transportation |access-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519163130/https://enotrans.org/article/amtrak-at-50-defining-the-basic-system-of-service-routes/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The initial reaction to this heavily-cut-back proposed system from the public, the press, and congressmen was strongly negative. It made front-page headlines across the country and it was quickly leaked that the DOT had wanted a far larger system than the White House would approve. The ICC produced its own report on December 29, criticising the proposed draft and arguing for the inclusion of 15 additional routes, giving further ammunition to the congressmen who wanted an expanded system. Further wrangling between the DOT and the White House produced the final list of routes on January 28, 1971, adding 5 additional routes to the November 30 draft.<ref name="enoamtrak50-2" />

These required routes had only their endpoints specified; the selection of the actual routes to be taken between the endpoints was left to the NRPC, which had just three months to decide them before it was due to start service. Consultants from [[McKinsey & Company]] were hired to perform this task, and their results were publicly announced on March 22.<ref name="enoamtrak50-3">{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Jeff |title=Amtrak at 50: How McKinsey Designed A National Railroad |url=https://enotrans.org/article/amtrak-at-50-how-mckinsey-designed-a-national-railroad/ |publisher=Eno Center for Transportation |access-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519161623/https://enotrans.org/article/amtrak-at-50-how-mckinsey-designed-a-national-railroad/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the same time, the NRPC had hired [[Lippincott (brand consultancy)|Lippincott & Margulies]] to create a brand for it and replace its original working [[brand name]] of Railpax. On March 30, L&M's work was presented to the NRPC's board of incorporators, who unanimously agreed on the "headless arrow" logo and on the new brand name "Amtrak", a [[portmanteau]] of the words ''America'' and ''trak'', the latter itself a [[sensational spelling]] of ''track''.<ref name="enoamtrak50-3" /> The name change was publicly announced less than two weeks before operations began.<ref name="FY18 profile" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 20, 1971 |title=Railpax, er, AMTRAK Eyes Loss |page=21 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 20, 1971 |title=Delay Asked In Rail Plan |page=1 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Thoms|1973|p=51}}</ref>

{{anchor|Rainbow Era}}

===1970s: The Rainbow Era===
[[File:BN_9762_in_Yakima_Aug_71_NthCstHiRP.jpg|right|thumb|The ''[[North Coast Hiawatha]]'' near [[Yakima, Washington]], in July 1971, an example of early Amtrak "rainbow" [[consist]]s, made up of equipment still painted in the colors of various railroads]]
Amtrak began operations on May 1, 1971.<ref name="winner" /><ref name="last court test" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Stover|1997|p=234}}</ref> Amtrak received no [[rail tracks]] or [[Right-of-way (transportation)|rights-of-way]] at its inception. All of Amtrak's routes were continuations of prior service, although Amtrak pruned about half the passenger rail network.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_rteAAAAIBAJ&pg=2851%2C10220 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |agency=Associated Press |last=Cook |first=Louise |title=Many famous trains roll into history |date=May 1, 1971 |page=1 |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509213404/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_rteAAAAIBAJ&pg=2851%2C10220 |url-status=live}}</ref> Of the 366 train routes that operated previously, Amtrak continued only 184.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|pp=5–6}}</ref> Several major corridors became freight-only, including the ex-[[New York Central Railroad]]'s [[Water Level Route]] from New York to Ohio and [[Grand Trunk Western Railroad]]'s Chicago to Detroit route. The reduced passenger-train schedules created confusion amongst staff. At some stations, Amtrak service was available only late at night or early in the morning, prompting complaints from passengers.<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 28, 1976|title=Daylight hours asked for local train|work=[[Williamson Daily News]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KJlDAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002165557/https://books.google.com/books?id=KJlDAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1|url-status=live}}</ref> Disputes with freight railroads over track usage caused some services to be rerouted, temporarily cancelled, or replaced with buses.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 2, 1974|title=Temporarily Halt Rail Service To Repair Penn-Central Tracks|work=[[Times-Union (Warsaw)|Times-Union]]|location=[[Warsaw, Indiana]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AoNHAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002165555/https://books.google.com/books?id=AoNHAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=July 14, 1978|title=Hoosiers fighting over rails|work=The Rochester Sentinel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gS1jAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002165555/https://books.google.com/books?id=gS1jAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1|url-status=live}}</ref> On the other hand, the creation of the Los Angeles–Seattle ''[[Coast Starlight]]'' from three formerly separate train routes was an immediate success, resulting in an increase to daily service by 1973.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barr |first=Robert A. |date=March 18, 1973 |title=Amtrak's coastal train may run daily in June |page=D12 |work=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Barr |first=Robert A. |date=June 14, 1972 |title=Riders filling Amtrak's Seattle-San Diego trains |page=H4 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

Needing to operate only half the train routes that had operated previously, Amtrak would lease around 1,200 of the best passenger cars from the 3,000 that the private railroads owned. All were air-conditioned, and 90% were easy-to-maintain stainless steel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.amtrak.com/archives/weve-rejected-2-out-of-every-3-cars-advertisement-1971 |title="We've Rejected 2 Out Of Every 3 Cars" advertisement, 1971 |date=June 11, 2013 |website=Amtrak |access-date=April 21, 2018 |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910014704/https://history.amtrak.com/archives/weve-rejected-2-out-of-every-3-cars-advertisement-1971 |url-status=live}}</ref> When Amtrak took over, passenger cars and locomotives initially retained the paint schemes and logos of their former owners which resulted in Amtrak's running trains with mismatched colors – the "Rainbow Era".<ref>{{cite news |date=September 27, 2017 |title=Amtrak interiors through the years |url=https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/2017/09/27/amtrak-interiors-through-the-years/106053536/ |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |access-date=March 21, 2018 |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322081956/https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/2017/09/27/amtrak-interiors-through-the-years/106053536/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In mid-1971, Amtrak began purchasing some of the equipment it had leased, including 286 [[Electro-Motive Division|EMD]] E and F unit diesel locomotives, 30 [[PRR GG1|GG1]] electric locomotives and 1,290 passenger cars. By 1975, the official Amtrak color scheme was painted on most Amtrak equipment and newly purchased locomotives and the rolling stock began appearing.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://ctr.trains.com/railroad-reference/operations/2001/06/amtraks-beginnings |first=John |last=Kelly |title=Amtrak's beginnings |journal=Classic Trains Magazine |date=June 5, 2001 |access-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015103725/http://ctr.trains.com/railroad-reference/operations/2001/06/amtraks-beginnings |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Amtrak pointless arrow logo at Oakland–Jack London Square station, September 2015.jpg|thumb|left|Classic Amtrak logo displayed at the [[Oakland – Jack London Square station]], California]]

Amtrak inherited problems with train stations (most notably [[deferred maintenance]]) and redundant facilities from the competing railroads that once served the same communities. Chicago is a prime example; on the day prior to Amtrak's inception, intercity passenger trains used five different Chicago terminals: [[LaSalle Street Station|LaSalle]], [[Dearborn Station|Dearborn]], [[Ogilvie Transportation Center|North Western Station]], [[Central Station (Chicago terminal)|Central]], and Union. The trains at LaSalle remained there, as their operator [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad|Rock Island]] could not afford to opt into Amtrak. Of all the trains serving Dearborn Station, Amtrak retained only a pair of Santa Fe trains, which relocated to [[Chicago Union Station|Union Station]] beginning with the first Amtrak departures on May 1, 1971. Dearborn Station closed after the last pre-Amtrak trains on the Santa Fe arrived in Chicago on May 2. None of the intercity trains that had served North Western Station became part of the Amtrak system, and that terminal became commuter-only after May 1. The trains serving Central Station continued to use that station until an alternate routing was adopted in March 1972. In [[New York City]], Amtrak had to maintain two stations ([[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Penn]] and [[Grand Central Terminal|Grand Central]]) due to the lack of track connections to bring trains from upstate New York into Penn Station; a problem that was rectified once the [[Empire Connection]] was built in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |title=Digging into the Archives: The West Side Connection |url=https://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/making-connections |website=Amtrak History |publisher=Amtrak |date=April 3, 2013 |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625214006/https://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/making-connections |url-status=live}}</ref> The Amtrak Standard Stations Program was launched in 1978 and proposed to build a standardized station design across the system with an aim to reduce costs, speed construction, and improve its corporate image.<ref name="amtrakhistory">"{{cite web |date=March 4, 2013 |title=The Amtrak Standard Stations Program |url=https://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/creating-a-visual-identity-the-amtrak-standard-stations-program |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321014720/http://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/creating-a-visual-identity-the-amtrak-standard-stations-program |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 21, 2013 |access-date=July 27, 2019 |publisher=Amtrak }}</ref><ref name="executivesummary">{{cite book |title=Standard Stations Program Executive Summary |date=1978 |publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Office of the Chief Engineer)}}</ref> However, the cash-strapped railroad would ultimately build relatively few of these standard stations.<ref name="heartland2">{{harvnb|Sanders|2006|p=270}}</ref>

[[File:Amtrak 621 with the San Francisco Zephyr over the Truckee River in Verdi, Nevada, February 1975.jpg|thumb|right|An Amtrak [[EMD SDP40F]] with the ''[[San Francisco Zephyr]]'' in 1975. By the mid-1970s, Amtrak equipment was acquiring its own identity.]]

Amtrak soon had the opportunity to acquire rights-of-way. Following the bankruptcy of several northeastern railroads in the early 1970s, including Penn Central, which owned and operated the Northeast Corridor (NEC), Congress passed the [[Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act]] of 1976.<ref>[[Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act]], {{USPL|94|210}}, {{USStat|90|31}}, {{USC|45|801}}. February 5, 1976.</ref> A large part of the legislation was directed to the creation of [[Conrail]], but the law also enabled the transfer of the portions of the NEC not already owned by state authorities to Amtrak. Amtrak acquired the majority of the NEC on April 1, 1976.<ref>{{cite web |website=U.S. Federal Railroad Administration |url=http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/643.shtml |title=Northeast Corridor Main Line |access-date=November 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202082510/http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/643.shtml |archive-date=December 2, 2011}}</ref> (The portion in Massachusetts is owned by the Commonwealth and managed by Amtrak. The route from New Haven to New Rochelle is owned by New York's [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] and the [[Connecticut Department of Transportation]] as the [[New Haven Line]].)<ref>{{cite web|last=Frisman|first=Paul|date=November 13, 2014|title=Questions About Metro North Railroad And Commuter Rail|url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/2014/rpt/pdf/2014-R-0204.pdf|url-status=live|website=Connecticut General Assembly - Office of Legislative Research|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818022707/https://www.cga.ct.gov/2014/rpt/pdf/2014-R-0204.pdf}}</ref> This mainline became Amtrak's "jewel" asset, and helped the railroad generate revenue. While the NEC ridership and revenues were higher than those of any other segment of the system, the cost of operating and maintaining the corridor proved to be overwhelming. As a result, Amtrak's federal subsidy was increased dramatically. In subsequent years, other short-route segments not needed for freight operations were transferred to Amtrak.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

In its first decade, Amtrak fell far short of financial independence, a shortage that continues today, but it did find modest success rebuilding trade. Outside factors discouraged competing transport, such as fuel shortages which increased costs of automobile and airline travel, and strikes which disrupted airline operations. Investments in Amtrak's track, equipment and information also made Amtrak more relevant to America's transportation needs.<ref>{{cite news |first=William H. |last=Jones |title=Americans Rediscover The Train; Trains are rediscovered |newspaper=Washington Post |page=D8 |date=May 12, 1979}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Yemma |title=Years Later, Amtrak is Keeping Riders Won in Gas Pinch |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1980/0721/072139.html |work=Christian Science Monitor |page=4 |date=July 21, 1980 |access-date=June 12, 2008 |archive-date=September 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903044628/http://www.csmonitor.com/1980/0721/072139.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Amtrak's ridership increased from 16.6&nbsp;million in 1972 to 21&nbsp;million in 1981.<ref name="NiceD" />

In February 1978, Amtrak moved its headquarters to 400 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.amtrak.com/archives/amtraks-first-headquarters |title=The second Amtrak corporate headquarters. — Amtrak: History of America's Railroad |publisher=History.amtrak.com |date=April 13, 2011 |access-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003145835/https://history.amtrak.com/archives/amtraks-first-headquarters |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===1980s and 1990s: The Building Era===
{{Stack|
[[File:Amtrak 943 with a Metroliner at Seabrook, MD, November 12, 1987.jpg|thumb|right|An [[EMD AEM-7]] with a ''[[Metroliner (train)|Metroliner]]'' in [[Seabrook, Maryland]], in 1987. The AEM-7 was Amtrak's workhorse on electrified routes for over 30 years.]]
[[File:AMTK 315 Tun17 CZ Nwcstle Mar1995RP - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg|thumb|right|An [[EMD F40PH]] leads the ''[[California Zephyr]]'' in 1995. The F40PH replaced the unreliable SDP40F.]]
}}
In 1982, former [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]] and retired [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]] head [[W. Graham Claytor, Jr.|William Graham Claytor Jr.]] came out of retirement to lead Amtrak. During his time at Southern, Claytor was a vocal critic of Amtrak's prior managers, who all came from non-railroading backgrounds. Transportation Secretary [[Drew Lewis]] cited this criticism as a reason that the Democrat Claytor was acceptable to the Reagan White House.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wilner|1994}}</ref>{{Rp|page=7}} Despite frequent clashes with the Reagan administration over funding, Claytor enjoyed a good relationship with Lewis, [[John H. Riley]], the head of the [[Federal Railroad Administration]] (FRA), and with members of Congress. Limited funding led Claytor to use [[money market|short-term debt]] to fund operations.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://static.highbeam.com/f/fortune/october231989/stillchuggingwgrahamclaytorjrfortunepeoplecolumn/ |title=Still chugging |first=Mark |last=Alpert |date=October 23, 1989 |magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |access-date=November 23, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050422084946/http://static.highbeam.com/f/fortune/october231989/stillchuggingwgrahamclaytorjrfortunepeoplecolumn/ |archive-date=April 22, 2005}}</ref>

Building on mechanical developments in the 1970s, high-speed Washington–New York [[Metroliner (train)|Metroliner Service]] was improved with new equipment and faster schedules. Travel time between New York and Washington, D.C., was reduced to under 3 hours due to system improvements and limited stop service.<ref name=":2" /> This improvement was cited as a reason that Amtrak grew its share of intercity trips between the cities along the corridor. Elsewhere in the country, demand for passenger rail service resulted in the creation of five new state-supported routes in California, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon and Pennsylvania, for a total of 15 state-supported routes.

Amtrak added two trains in 1983, the ''[[California Zephyr]]'' between [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] and Chicago via Denver<ref name=":2" /> and revived the ''[[Auto Train]]'', a unique service that carries both passengers and their vehicles. Amtrak advertised it as a great way to avoid traffic along the [[Interstate 95|I-95]] running between [[Lorton, Virginia]], (near Washington, D.C.) and [[Sanford, Florida]], (near Orlando) on the [[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]] alignment.<ref name=":2" />

In 1980s and 1990s, stations in Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., received major rehabilitation and the Empire Connection tunnel opened in 1991, allowing Amtrak to consolidate all New York services at [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Penn Station.]] Despite the improvements, Amtrak's ridership stagnated at roughly 20 million passengers per year, amid uncertain government aid from 1981 to about 2000.<ref name="NiceD" /><ref>{{cite book|title=1999 Annual Report |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref>

In the early 1990s, Amtrak tested several different high-speed trains from Europe on the Northeast Corridor. An [[X 2000#Exports|X 2000 train was leased]] from Sweden for test runs from October 1992 to January 1993, followed by revenue service between Washington, D.C., and New York City from February to May and August to September 1993. [[Siemens]] showed the [[ICE 1]] train from Germany, organizing the [[ICE 1#ICE train North America tour|ICE Train North America Tour]] which started to operate on the Northeast Corridor on July 3, 1993.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1993 |title=ICE Train North America Tour |journal=Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau |language=de |volume=42 |issue=11 |page=756}}</ref>

In 1993, Thomas Downs succeeded Claytor as Amtrak's fifth president. The stated goal remained "operational self-sufficiency". By this time, however, Amtrak had a large overhang of debt from years of underfunding. In the mid-1990s, Amtrak suffered through a serious cash crunch. Under Downs, Congress included a provision in the [[Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997]] that resulted in Amtrak's receiving a $2.3&nbsp;billion tax refund that resolved their cash crisis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amtrak Is Way Off Track Fiscally, Its President and the GAO Say |first=Don |last=Phillips |date=March 18, 1994 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> However, Congress also instituted a "glide path" to financial self-sufficiency, excluding railroad retirement tax act payments.<ref>{{cite speech |title=Intercity Passenger Rail; Amtrak Faces Challenges in Improving its Financial Condition (Report GAO/T-RCED-00-30) |first=Phyllis F. |last=Scheinberg |date=October 28, 1999 |location=House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Ground Transportation |url=http://www.gao.gov/archive/2000/rc00030t.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=June 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624184942/http://www.gao.gov/archive/2000/rc00030t.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[George Warrington]] became the sixth president in 1998, with a mandate to make Amtrak financially self-sufficient. Under Warrington, the company tried to expand into express freight shipping, placing Amtrak in competition with the "host" freight railroads and the [[Trucking industry in the United States|trucking industry]].

On March 9, 1999, Amtrak unveiled its plan for the ''Acela Express,'' a high-speed train on the [[Northeast Corridor]] between Washington, D.C., and Boston.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 10, 1999 |title=Amtrak unveils high-speed shuttle trains for busy travelers – Service between Boston, Washington is designed to compete with airlines |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6680582.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026120641/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6680582.html |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2009 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}</ref><ref name="overview2">{{Cite news |date=March 9, 1999 |title=Amtrak To Unveil High-Speed Service |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23407520.html |url-status=dead |access-date=August 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026120633/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23407520.html |archive-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref> Several changes were made to the corridor to make it suitable for higher-speed electric trains. The [[Amtrak's 60 Hz traction power system|Northend Electrification Project]] extended existing electrification from [[New Haven, Connecticut]], to Boston to complete the [[Railway electrification system|overhead power supply]] along the {{convert|454|mi|adj=on}} route, and several grade crossings were improved or removed.<ref name="overview2" /><ref>{{cite magazine |date=June 1, 1999 |title=At-grade crossings: Innovation, safety, sophisticated new technology |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-31928865_ITM |magazine=Railway Track and Structures |access-date=August 29, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Public Archaeology Laboratory |url=http://www.palinc.com/sites/default/files/publications/Amtrak_History.pdf |title=Amtrak's High Speed Rail Program, New Haven to Boston: History and Historic Resources |publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) |year=2001 |access-date=January 23, 2023 |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005033406/https://www.palinc.com/sites/default/files/publications/Amtrak_History.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{clear}}

===2000s: Growth in the 21st century===
[[File:The_Sunday_Morning_Cardinal.jpg|right|thumb|[[GE Genesis]] diesel locomotives lead the ''[[Cardinal (train)|Cardinal]]'' in 2006. In the 21st century, Amtrak replaced the F40PH with the Genesis series]]
Ridership increased during the first decade of the 21st century after the implementation of capital improvements in the NEC and rises in automobile fuel costs. The inauguration of the [[high-speed rail|high-speed]] ''[[Acela]]'' in late 2000 generated considerable publicity and led to major ridership gains. However, through the late 1990s and very early 21st century, Amtrak could not add sufficient express freight revenue or cut sufficient other expenditures to break even. By 2002, it was clear that Amtrak could not achieve self-sufficiency, but Congress continued to authorize funding and released Amtrak from the requirement.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Wirzbicki |title=Senate votes to increase funding for Amtrak service |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/10/31/senate_votes_to_increase_funding_for_amtrak_service?mode=PF |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=June 12, 2008 |archive-date=September 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923101330/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/10/31/senate_votes_to_increase_funding_for_amtrak_service?mode=PF |url-status=dead}}</ref> In early 2002, [[David L. Gunn]] replaced Warrington as seventh president. In a departure from his predecessors' promises to make Amtrak self-sufficient in the short term, Gunn argued that no form of passenger transportation in the United States is self-sufficient as the economy is currently structured.<ref>{{cite speech|title=Testimony of David Gunn Before Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies |first=David L. |last=Gunn |date=June 20, 2002 |location=Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies |url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/Simple_Copy_Page&cid=1081442674364&c=am2Copy&ssid=172 |access-date=June 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627100644/https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FSimple_Copy_Page&cid=1081442674364&c=am2Copy&ssid=172 |archive-date=June 27, 2012}}</ref> Highways, airports, and air traffic control ''all'' require large government expenditures to build and operate, coming from the [[Highway Trust Fund]] and [[Airport and Airway Trust Fund|Aviation Trust Fund]] paid for by user fees, highway fuel and road taxes, and, in the case of the General Fund, from general taxation.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Szep |title=Q&A with Amtrak President Alex Kummant |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSSIB27628520080612?sp=true |work=Reuters |date=June 12, 2008 |access-date=June 14, 2008 |archive-date=January 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111164033/http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSSIB27628520080612?sp=true |url-status=live}}</ref> Gunn dropped most freight express business and worked to eliminate deferred maintenance.<ref>{{cite journal |date=Spring–Summer 2005 |title=Amtrak President David Gunn Lectures at UIUC |journal=CEE Alumni Association Newsletter, Online Edition |publisher=CEE Alumni Association |location=University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |url=http://cee.uiuc.edu/alumni/newsletter/p08_krambles.aspx |access-date=June 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825052747/http://cee.uiuc.edu/alumni/newsletter/p08_krambles.aspx |archive-date=August 25, 2007}}</ref>
[[File:Amtrakcropped.jpg|alt=GE Genesis diesel pulls the California Zephyr Train in front of the Rocky Mountains|thumb|Two GE Genesis diesels lead the ''California Zephyr'' in front of the Rocky Mountains]]
A plan by the Bush administration "to privatize parts of the national passenger rail system and spin off other parts to partial state ownership" provoked disagreement within Amtrak's board of directors. Late in 2005, Gunn was fired.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amtrak's President Is Fired by Its Board |first=Matthew |last=Wald |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/national/09cnd-amtrak.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 9, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2015}}</ref> Gunn's replacement, [[Alexander Kummant]] (2006–08), was committed to operating a national rail network, and like Gunn, opposed the notion of putting the Northeast Corridor under separate ownership.<ref name="surprising forecast" /> He said that shedding the system's long-distance routes would amount to selling national assets that are on par with national parks, and that Amtrak's abandonment of these routes would be irreversible. In late 2006, Amtrak unsuccessfully sought annual congressional funding of $1 billion for ten years.<ref name="surprising forecast" /> In early 2007, Amtrak employed 20,000 people in 46 states and served 25&nbsp;million passengers a year, its highest number since its founding in 1970. ''[[Politico]]'' noted a key problem: "the rail system chronically operates in the red. A pattern has emerged: Congress overrides cutbacks demanded by the White House and appropriates enough funds to keep Amtrak from plunging into insolvency. But, Amtrak advocates say, that is not enough to fix the system's woes."<ref>{{cite web |title=A Younger Biden Goes the Extra Miles for Amtrak |first=Andrew |last=Glass |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/02/a-younger-biden-goes-the-extra-miles-for-amtrak-002672 |website=[[Politico]] |date=February 7, 2007 |access-date=May 11, 2015 |archive-date=June 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603012144/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2672.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Joseph H. Boardman]] replaced Kummant as president and CEO in late 2008.<ref name="Boardman selected" />
[[File:Acela_old_saybrook_ct_summer2011.jpg|right|thumb|An ''[[Acela]]'' at [[Old Saybrook, Connecticut]], in 2011]]
In 2011, Amtrak announced its intention to improve and expand the high-speed rail corridor from Penn Station in NYC, under the Hudson River in new tunnels, and double-tracking the line to [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark, NJ]], called the [[Gateway Project|Gateway Program]], initially estimated to cost $13.5&nbsp;billion (equal to ${{Inflation|index=US|value=13.5|start_year=2011}} billion in {{Inflation/year|index=US}}).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frassinelli |first=Mike |title=N.J. senators, Amtrak official to announce new commuter train tunnel project across the Hudson |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=February 6, 2011 |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/nj_senators_to_announce_new_co.html |access-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110207232224/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/nj_senators_to_announce_new_co.html |archive-date=February 7, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gateway Project |website=Amtrak |date=February 2011 |url=http://lautenberg.senate.gov/assets/Gateway.pdf |access-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207210953/http://lautenberg.senate.gov/assets/Gateway.pdf |archive-date=February 7, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fleisher |first1=Liza |last2=Grossman |first2=Andrew |title=Amtrak's Plan For New Tunnel Gains Support |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=February 8, 2011 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704422204576130673174593178 |access-date=August 28, 2011 |archive-date=July 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712035617/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704422204576130673174593178 |url-status=live}}</ref>

From May 2011 to May 2012, Amtrak celebrated its 40th anniversary with festivities across the country that started on National Train Day (May 7, 2011). A commemorative book entitled ''Amtrak: An American Story'' was published, a documentary was created, [[Amtrak paint schemes#40th anniversary heritage units|six locomotives were painted in Amtrak's four prior paint schemes]], and an Exhibit Train toured the country visiting 45 communities and welcoming more than 85,000 visitors.<ref>{{cite web |last=National Railroad |title=Bulletin Board (40th Anniversary Train Ends U.S.) |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/779/31/Amtrak-Ink-0612.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108035801/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/779/31/Amtrak-Ink-0612.pdf |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |work=Amtrak Ink |publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation}}</ref>

After years of almost revolving-door CEOs at Amtrak, in December 2013, Boardman was named "Railroader of the Year" by ''Railway Age'' magazine, which noted that with over five years in the job, he is the second-longest serving head of Amtrak since it was formed more than 40 years ago.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-president-and-ceo-joe-boardman-named-railroader-of-the-year.html |title=Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman named Railroader of the Year |first=William C. |last=Vantuono |date=December 9, 2013 |website=Railway Age |access-date=April 12, 2014 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104135/http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-president-and-ceo-joe-boardman-named-railroader-of-the-year.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On December 9, 2015, Boardman announced in a letter to employees that he would be leaving Amtrak in September 2016. He had advised the Amtrak Board of Directors of his decision the previous week. On August 19, 2016, the Amtrak Board of Directors named former [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] President & CEO [[Charles Moorman|Charles "Wick" Moorman]] as Boardman's successor with an effective date of September 1, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.amtrak.com/2016/08/amtrak-names-industry-veteran-wick-moorman-president-and-chief-executive-officer/ |title=Amtrak Names Industry Veteran Wick Moorman President and Chief Executive Officer |website=Amtrak Media |date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=September 1, 2016 |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921205206/http://media.amtrak.com/2016/08/amtrak-names-industry-veteran-wick-moorman-president-and-chief-executive-officer/ |url-status=live}}</ref> During his term, Moorman took no salary<ref>{{cite news |last1=McGeehan |first1=Patrick |title=Amtrak Picks Delta's Former Chief to Lead It Through Challenging Time |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/nyregion/amtrak-ceo-richard-anderson.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2017 |archive-date=June 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626233736/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/nyregion/amtrak-ceo-richard-anderson.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and said that he saw his role as one of a "transitional CEO" who would reorganize Amtrak before turning it over to new leadership.<ref name="WaPoAnderson" />

On November 17, 2016, the Gateway Program Development Corporation (GDC) was formed for the purpose of overseeing and effectuating the rail infrastructure improvements known as the Gateway Program.<ref name=Gateway>{{cite web |url=http://www.gatewayprogram.org/content/dam/nec/18-1-18_GDC-AnnualReport_LR.pdf |title=Gateway Program Overview |date=December 9, 2018 |website=Gatewayprogram.org |access-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203193731/http://gatewayprogram.org/content/dam/nec/18-1-18_GDC-AnnualReport_LR.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> GDC is a partnership of the States of New York and New Jersey and Amtrak. The Gateway Program includes the Hudson Tunnel Project, to build a new tunnel under the Hudson River and rehabilitate the existing century-old tunnel, and the Portal North Bridge, to replace a century-old moveable bridge with a modern structure that is less prone to failure. Later projects of the Gateway Program, including the expansion of track and platforms at Penn Station New York, construction of the Bergen Loop and other improvements will roughly double capacity for Amtrak and NJ Transit trains in the busiest, most complex section of the Northeast Corridor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gatewayprogram.org/content/dam/nec/18-1-18_GDC-AnnualReport_LR.pdf |title=Gateway Program Overview |date=December 9, 2018 |website=Gatewayprogram.org |access-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203193731/http://gatewayprogram.org/content/dam/nec/18-1-18_GDC-AnnualReport_LR.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2017, it was announced that former [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]] and [[Northwest Airlines]] CEO [[Richard H. Anderson (businessman)|Richard Anderson]] would become Amtrak's next President & CEO.<ref name="WaPoAnderson" /> Anderson began the job on July 12, assuming the title of President immediately and serving alongside Moorman as "co-CEOs" until the end of the year. On April 15, 2020, [[Atlas Air]] Chairman, President and CEO William Flynn was named Amtrak President and CEO. In addition to Atlas Air, Flynn has held senior roles at [[CSX Transportation]], [[SeaLand|SeaLand Services]] and GeoLogistics Corp. Anderson would remain with Amtrak as a senior advisor until December 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.amtrak.com/2020/03/amtrak-names-william-flynn-as-ceo-and-president/ |title=Amtrak Names William Flynn as CEO and President |date=March 2, 2020 |website=Amtrak |access-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609184253/https://media.amtrak.com/2020/03/amtrak-names-william-flynn-as-ceo-and-president/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

As Amtrak approached profitability in 2020, the company undertook planning to expand and create new intermediate-distance corridors across the country. Included were several new services in Ohio, Tennessee, Colorado, and Minnesota, among other states.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McMurtry |first1=Ian |title=Amtrak 2035: Does Amtrak Finally Have a Strong Plan Against Airlines? |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/10/24/amtrak-2035-does-amtrak-finally-have-a-strong-plan-against-airlines/ |access-date=February 7, 2021 |agency=Airline Geeks |date=October 24, 2020 |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205153638/https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/10/24/amtrak-2035-does-amtrak-finally-have-a-strong-plan-against-airlines/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Eric |title=Amtrak route restructure targets new corridors |url=https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Amtrak-route-restructure-targets-new-corridors-15928591.php |access-date=February 7, 2021 |agency=[[Times Union (Albany)|Times Union]] |date=February 5, 2021 |archive-date=February 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207142800/https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Amtrak-route-restructure-targets-new-corridors-15928591.php |url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]], Amtrak continued operating as an essential service. It started requiring face coverings the week of May 17, and limited sales to 50% of capacity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/07/metro/amtrak-will-require-passengers-wear-face-coverings-starting-next-week/ |title=Amtrak will require passengers to wear face coverings starting next week |website=Boston Globe.com |date=May 7, 2020 |access-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724172320/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/07/metro/amtrak-will-require-passengers-wear-face-coverings-starting-next-week/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Most long-distance routes were reduced to three weekly round trips in October 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Shanna |title=Coronavirus Service Cuts For Amtrak Trains Are Hurting The Local Economy And Traditions In Southern Colorado |url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/10/09/coronavirus-amtrak-service-cutshurting-souther-colorado-economy-traditions/ |access-date=October 11, 2020 |website=[[KRCC]] |date=October 9, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021164714/https://www.cpr.org/2020/10/09/coronavirus-amtrak-service-cutshurting-souther-colorado-economy-traditions/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/tri-weekly-long-distance-schedules.html |title=Long Distance Schedules Change to Tri-Weekly |date=August 2020 |website=Amtrak |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923225950/https://www.amtrak.com/alert/tri-weekly-long-distance-schedules.html |archive-date=September 23, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2021, following President Joe Biden's [[American Jobs Plan]] announcement, Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn outlined a proposal called Amtrak Connects US that would expand state-supported intercity corridors with an infusion of upfront capital assistance.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sobol |first=Evan |title=Amtrak announces 'Connects US' plan to grow rail services over next 15 years |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/amtrak-announces-connects-us-plan-to-grow-rail-services-over-next-15-years/article_1cefd7a5-e294-57a9-810c-b15c6ef6916c.html |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=FOX Carolina |language=en |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414144513/https://www.foxcarolina.com/amtrak-announces-connects-us-plan-to-grow-rail-services-over-next-15-years/article_1cefd7a5-e294-57a9-810c-b15c6ef6916c.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Invest in America. Invest in Amtrak|url=https://www.amtrakconnectsus.com/|access-date=April 1, 2021|website=Amtrak Connects US|language=en-US|archive-date=April 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401154844/https://www.amtrakconnectsus.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> This would expand service to cities including [[Las Vegas]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[Baton Rouge]], [[Nashville]], [[Chattanooga]], [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus (Ohio)]], [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington (North Carolina)]], [[Cheyenne, Wyoming|Cheyenne]], [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], [[Concord, New Hampshire|Concord]], and [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/06/984464351/as-biden-pushes-major-rail-investments-rail-amtraks-2035-map-has-people-talking|title=As Biden Pushes Major Rail Investments, Amtrak's 2035 Map Has People Talking|work=NPR|date=April 6, 2021|last=Wamsley|first=Laurel|access-date=May 22, 2021|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522233332/https://www.npr.org/2021/04/06/984464351/as-biden-pushes-major-rail-investments-rail-amtraks-2035-map-has-people-talking|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in March 2021, Amtrak announced plans to return 12 of its long-distance routes to daily schedules later in the spring.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://media.amtrak.com/2021/03/with-increased-demand-and-congressional-funding-amtrak-restores-12-long-distance-routes-to-daily-service/|title=With Increased Demand and Congressional Funding, Amtrak Restores 12 Long Distance Routes to Daily Service|date=March 10, 2021|website=Amtrak|access-date=April 11, 2021|archive-date=October 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012085947/https://media.amtrak.com/2021/03/with-increased-demand-and-congressional-funding-amtrak-restores-12-long-distance-routes-to-daily-service/|url-status=live}}</ref> Most of these routes were restored to daily service in late-May 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amtrak restores long-distance service on routes following COVID cutbacks |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2021/05/25/amtrak-train-long-distance-service-restored-covid-cutbacks/7426411002/ |access-date=July 10, 2021 |work=USA TODAY |archive-date=January 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114210138/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2021/05/25/amtrak-train-long-distance-service-restored-covid-cutbacks/7426411002/ |url-status=live}}</ref> However, a resurgence of the virus caused by the [[SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant|Omicron variant]] caused Amtrak to modify and/or suspend many of these routes again from January to March 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amtrak to decrease service on most routes Jan. 24 to March 27 |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-to-decrease-service-on-most-routes-jan-24-to-march-27/ |access-date=January 26, 2022 |work=Trains |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125210438/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-to-decrease-service-on-most-routes-jan-24-to-march-27/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Stephen Gardner (transportation executive)|Stephen Gardner]], a former Amtrak intern and longtime executive, became the company's CEO in January 2022. He resigned abruptly on March 19, 2025, amid reports that the [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] had pressured him to step down.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grantham-Philips |first=Wyatte |date=2025-03-20 |title=Amtrak CEO abruptly resigns from the nation's passenger railroad |url=https://apnews.com/article/amtrak-gardner-ceo-resigns-musk-a57e28dfe402dabe3fad68294c1e6818 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=May 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250526170957/https://apnews.com/article/amtrak-gardner-ceo-resigns-musk-a57e28dfe402dabe3fad68294c1e6818 |url-status=live }}</ref> Earlier that month, Trump advisor [[Elon Musk]] had expressed an intention to privatize Amtrak.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Shepardson
| first = David
| title = Elon Musk says Post Office, Amtrak should be privatized
| work = Reuters
| date = March 6, 2025
| url = https://www.reuters.com/world/us/elon-musk-says-post-office-amtrak-should-be-privatized-2025-03-05/
| access-date = March 20, 2025
| archive-date = March 24, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250324135704/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/elon-musk-says-post-office-amtrak-should-be-privatized-2025-03-05/
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

==Operations==
[[File:Moynihan Train Hall interior.jpg|thumb|New York City's [[Moynihan Train Hall]] at [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Penn Station]], Amtrak's busiest station by boardings]]
[[File:Chicago Union Station, Great Hall.jpg|thumb|[[Chicago Union Station]], Amtrak's busiest station not on the [[Northeast Corridor]] and main hub for long-distance services.]]

===Routes===
{{Main|List of Amtrak routes|List of busiest Amtrak stations|List of major cities in the United States lacking inter-city rail service}}

Amtrak is required by law to operate a national route system.<ref>''Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997.'' 105th Cong., Senate Report 105-85 (September 24, 1997).</ref> Amtrak has presence in 46 of the 48 contiguous states, as well as the District of Columbia (with only thruway connecting services in [[Wyoming]] and no services in [[South Dakota]]). Amtrak services fall into three groups: inter-city services on the Northeast Corridor, state-supported inter-city services outside the Northeast Corridor, and medium- and long-distance services (known within Amtrak as the National Network). Amtrak receives federal funding for the vast majority of its operations including the central spine of the Northeast Corridor as well as for its National Network routes. In addition to the federally funded routes, Amtrak partners with transportation agencies in 18 states to operate other inter-city and medium-distance routes outside of the Northeast Corridor, some of which connect to it or extend beyond it. In addition to its inter-city services, Amtrak also operates commuter services under contract for three public agencies: the [[MARC Train|MARC]] [[Penn Line]] in Maryland, [[Shore Line East]] in Connecticut,<ref>{{cite web |title=Shore Line East |url=https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Traveler/Rail/SLE |access-date=June 19, 2022 |website=CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website |language=en |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005211910/https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Traveler/Rail/SLE |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] in Southern California.

Service on the [[Northeast Corridor]] (NEC), between [[Boston]], and [[Washington, D.C.]], as well as between [[Philadelphia]] and [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], is powered by [[overhead line]]s; for the rest of the system, diesel-electric locomotives are used. Routes vary widely in the frequency of service, from three-days-a-week trains on the ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' and the [[Cardinal (train)|Cardinal]], to several times per hour on the Northeast Corridor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amtrak.com/train-schedules-timetables |title=Amtrak Train Schedules, Timetables |website=Amtrak.com |access-date=November 23, 2012 |archive-date=November 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123035314/http://www.amtrak.com/train-schedules-timetables |url-status=live}}</ref> For areas not served by trains, [[Amtrak Thruway]] routes provide guaranteed connections to trains via buses, vans, ferries and other modes.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Amtrak Thruway Connecting Services Multiply Your Travel Destinations |url=https://www.amtrak.com/thruway-connecting-services-multiply-your-travel-destinations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404220008/http://www.amtrak.com/thruway-connecting-services-multiply-your-travel-destinations |archive-date=April 4, 2018 |access-date=October 2, 2021 |website=Amtrak |language=en}}</ref>

The most popular and heavily used services are those running on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), including the ''[[Acela]]'' and ''[[Northeast Regional]]''. The NEC runs between Boston and Washington, D.C. via New York City and Philadelphia. Some services continue into [[Virginia]]. The NEC services accounted for 4.4&nbsp;million of Amtrak's 12.2 million passengers in [[fiscal year]] 2021.<ref name=":0" /> Outside the NEC the most popular services are located in California, including the ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]'', ''[[Capitol Corridor]]'', and ''[[Gold Runner]]'', which are supplemented by an extensive network of connecting buses. Together, the California corridor trains accounted for a combined 2.35 million passengers in fiscal year 2021.<ref name=":0" /> Other popular routes include the ''[[Empire Service]]'' between New York City and [[Niagara Falls, New York|Niagara Falls]], via [[Albany, New York|Albany]] and [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], which carried 613.2 thousand passengers in fiscal year 2021, and the ''[[Keystone Service]]'' between New York City and Harrisburg via Philadelphia that carried 394.3 thousand passengers that same year.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:South Station Tower arches Jan 2025.jpg|thumb|204x204px|[[South Station|Boston South Station]], the northern end of the Northeast Corridor]]
Four of the six busiest stations by boardings are on the NEC: [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|New York Penn Station]] (first), [[Washington Union Station]] (second), [[30th Street Station|Philadelphia 30th Street Station]] (third), and [[South Station|Boston South Station]] (fifth). The other two are [[Chicago Union Station]] (fourth) and [[Union Station (Los Angeles)|Los Angeles Union Station]] (sixth).<ref name="FY18 profile" />

===On-time performance===
On-time performance is calculated differently for airlines than for Amtrak. A plane is considered on-time if it arrives within 15 minutes of the schedule. Amtrak uses a sliding scale, with trips under {{convert|250|mi}} considered late if they are more than 10 minutes behind schedule, up to 30 minutes for trips over {{convert|551|mi}} in length.<ref name="bts-ontime" />

Outside the Northeast Corridor and stretches of track in Southern California and Michigan, most Amtrak trains run on tracks owned and operated by privately owned freight railroads. [[BNSF Railway|BNSF]] is the largest host to Amtrak routes, with 6.3 million train-miles.<ref name=":1" /> Freight rail operators are required under federal law to give dispatching preference to Amtrak trains.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=John |date=2025-07-28 |title=Bill aims to prioritize rail freight, untangle congestion |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bill-aims-to-prioritize-rail-freight-untangle-congestion |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=FreightWaves |language=en-US |archive-date=July 31, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250731025853/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bill-aims-to-prioritize-rail-freight-untangle-congestion |url-status=live }}</ref> Amtrak has accused freight railroads of violating or skirting these regulations, resulting in passenger trains having to wait for freight traffic to clear the track.<ref name=":4" />

The railroads' dispatching practices were investigated in 2008,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/3874 |title=Root Causes of Amtrak Train Delays |date=September 8, 2008 |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=February 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526202602/http://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/3874 |archive-date=May 26, 2010}}</ref> resulting in stricter laws about train priority. Subsequently, Amtrak's overall on-time performance went up from 74.7% in fiscal 2008 to 84.7% in 2009, with long-distance trains and others outside the NEC seeing the greatest benefit. The ''[[Missouri River Runner]]'' jumped from 11% to 95%, becoming one of Amtrak's best performers. The ''[[Texas Eagle]]'' went from 22.4% to 96.7%, and the ''[[California Zephyr]]'', with a 5% on-time record in 2008, went up to 78.3%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1249203347496&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadervalue1=attachment;filename=Amtrak_0909monthly.pdf |title=Monthly Performance Report for September 2009 |date=December 31, 2009 |website=Amtrak |access-date=February 4, 2010 |archive-date=November 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106143804/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1249203347496&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadervalue1=attachment;filename=Amtrak_0909monthly.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> This improved performance coincided with a general economic downturn, resulting in the lowest freight-rail traffic volumes since at least 1988, meaning less freight traffic to impede passenger traffic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2010/01/rail-traffic-in-2009-lowest-since-at.html |title=Rail Traffic in 2009: Lowest since at least 1988 |date=January 13, 2010 |website=Calculated Risk |access-date=February 7, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117181110/http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2010/01/rail-traffic-in-2009-lowest-since-at.html| archive-date=January 17, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Amtrak began issuing "report cards" to host railroads, grading each based on the railroad's impact to on-time performance. The first report card, issued in March 2018, includes one A (given to [[Canadian Pacific Railway|Canadian Pacific]]) and two Fs (given to [[Canadian National Railway|Canadian National]] and [[Norfolk Southern Railway|Norfolk Southern]]).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amtrak-report-card-freight-railroads|title=Amtrak's initial report card on freight railroads ranges from A to a pair of F's|last=Kingston|first=John|date=March 26, 2018|work=Freight Waves|access-date=July 30, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730110258/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amtrak-report-card-freight-railroads|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Freight Delays and Your Amtrak Service |url=https://www.amtrak.com/about-amtrak/on-time-performance.html |website=Amtrak |access-date=July 30, 2020 |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613114402/https://www.amtrak.com/about-amtrak/on-time-performance.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Amtrak's 2020 host report card gives [[Canadian Pacific Railway|Canadian Pacific]] and Canadian National an A, [[BNSF Railway|BNSF]] and [[CSX Transportation|CSX]] a B, [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]] a C+, and Norfolk Southern a D−.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |title=Amtrak Host Railroad Report Card 2021 |url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Host-Railroad-Report-Card-2021-Final-v2.pdf |access-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317172324/https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Host-Railroad-Report-Card-2021-Final-v2.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Amtrak's 2023 host report card gives [[Canadian Pacific Kansas City]] an A, [[CSX Transportation|CSX]] and [[Canadian National Railway|Canadian National]] a B+, [[BNSF Railway|BNSF]] a B, Norfolk Southern a B−, and [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]] a C−.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amtrak Host Railroad Report Card 2023 |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/HostRailroadReports/Amtrak-2023-Host-Railroad-Report-Card.pdf |access-date=December 12, 2024 |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203123251/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/HostRailroadReports/Amtrak-2023-Host-Railroad-Report-Card.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Amtrak's median on-time performance between 2018 and 2023 was 74.5%, reaching a high of 80% in 2020. It was highest on the Northeast Corridor (81.3%). The vast majority of hours of delay, about 57.5% on average, were caused by the host railroad. Long-distance routes performed similarly to the total weighted on-time percentage.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Amtrak On-Time Performance Trends and Hours of Delay by Cause |url=https://www.bts.gov/content/amtrak-time-performance-trends-and-hours-delay-cause |url-status=live |access-date=November 9, 2024 |website=Bureau of Transportation Statistics |publisher=United States Department of Transportation |archive-date=November 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109133829/https://www.bts.gov/content/amtrak-time-performance-trends-and-hours-delay-cause }}</ref>

===Ridership===
[[File:Annual Amtrak Ridership Graph thru FY2012.svg|thumb|right|Annual ridership by fiscal year 1971–2023]]
Amtrak carried 15.8&nbsp;million<!-- 15,848,327 --> passengers in 1972, its first full year of operation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/resources/more/amtrak_ridership/ |title=Amtrak Ridership by Fiscal Year |work=[[National Association of Railroad Passengers|NARP]] |access-date=July 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405094313/http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/resources/more/amtrak_ridership/ |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Ridership has increased steadily ever since, carrying a record 32&nbsp;million passengers in [[fiscal year]] (FY) 2019, more than double the total in 1972. For the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2020, Amtrak reported 16.8 million passengers, with the decline resulting from effects of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FY19-Year-End-Ridership.pdf|title=Amtrak FY19 Ridership|website=Amtrak|access-date=September 9, 2020|archive-date=May 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528210432/https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FY19-Year-End-Ridership.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FY20-Year-End-Ridership.pdf|title=Amtrak Route Ridership {{!}} FY20 vs. FY19|website=Amtrak|access-date=May 2, 2021|quote=Fiscal year 2019 ridership previously reported as 32.5 millions has been decreased to 32.0 million to reflect an updated company definition of ridership|archive-date=May 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517163829/https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FY20-Year-End-Ridership.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> FY 2021 saw ridership decrease more, with 12.2 million passengers reported.<ref name=":0" /> FY 2022 saw an increase to 22.9 million passengers, further increasing to 28.6 million passengers in FY 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weinberg |first1=Harrison |title=Capacity's impact shows in Amtrak's fiscal 2022 revenue and ridership: analysis |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/capacitys-impact-shows-in-amtraks-fiscal-2022-revenue-and-ridership-analysis/ |website=Trains.com |publisher=Bob Johnston |access-date=November 10, 2022 |archive-date=November 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110182841/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/capacitys-impact-shows-in-amtraks-fiscal-2022-revenue-and-ridership-analysis/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Kyle |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023: Ridership Exceeds Expectations as Demand for Passenger Rail Soars |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2023/11/amtrak-fiscal-year-2023-ridership-exceeds-expectations-as-demand-for-passenger-rail-soars/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=Amtrak Media |language=en-US |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205161942/https://media.amtrak.com/2023/11/amtrak-fiscal-year-2023-ridership-exceeds-expectations-as-demand-for-passenger-rail-soars/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In FY 2024, Amtrak's ridership increased to 32.8 million passengers, surpassing the record set in FY 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2023 |title=Amtrak Sets All-Time Ridership Record in Fiscal Year 2024 |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2024/12/amtrak-sets-all-time-ridership-record-in-fiscal-year-2024/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=Amtrak Media |language=en-US |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203202241/https://media.amtrak.com/2024/12/amtrak-sets-all-time-ridership-record-in-fiscal-year-2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref> FY 2025 saw ridership continue to increase to 34.5 million passengers, setting an all-time record for the second year in a row.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-16 |title=Amtrak sets ridership record in 2025 as capacity constraints continue: Analysis |url=https://www.trains.com/pro/passenger/intercity/amtrak-sets-ridership-record-in-2025-as-capacity-constraints-continue-analysis/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251117004520/https://www.trains.com/pro/passenger/intercity/amtrak-sets-ridership-record-in-2025-as-capacity-constraints-continue-analysis/ |archive-date=2025-11-17 |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=Trains.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=YTD September FY 2025 |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2025/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2025.pdf |website=Amtrak}}</ref>

===Guest Rewards===
Amtrak's [[loyalty program]], Guest Rewards,<ref name="amtrakrewards" /> is similar to the [[frequent-flyer program]]s of many airlines. Guest Rewards members accumulate points by riding Amtrak and through other activities, and can redeem these points for free Amtrak tickets and other rewards.<ref name="amtrakrewards" />

=== Rail passes ===
Amtrak offers the USA rail pass, valid for 10 segments (rides) in 30 days; and the California rail pass which is valid for 7 days of travel in a period of 21 days.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amtrak Multi-ride & Rail Passes |url=https://www.amtrak.com/multi-ride-rail-passes |website=Amtrak |access-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327044655/https://www.amtrak.com/multi-ride-rail-passes |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Lines===
[[File:A Lake Shore Limited train backing into Chicago Union Station.jpg|thumb|right|In 2009, an Amtrak Lake Shore Limited train backing into [[Chicago]] Union Station]]
[[File:Busiest Amtrak Stations.webp|thumb|Busiest Amtrak Stations]]
Along the NEC and in several other areas, Amtrak owns {{convert|730|mi}} of track, including 17 tunnels comprising {{convert|29.7|mi|km|sigfig=3}} of track and 1,186 bridges comprising {{convert|42.5|mi|km|sigfig=3}} of track. In several places, primarily in New England, Amtrak leases tracks, providing track maintenance and controlling train movements. Most often, these tracks are leased from state, regional, or local governments. The lines are further divided into services. Amtrak owns and operates the following lines:<ref>{{cite web|title=Amtrak's Track |website=Trains.com |url=http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44882 |access-date=November 23, 2005}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

* [[Northeast Corridor]]: the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., and [[Boston]] via [[Baltimore]], Philadelphia, [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[New York City|New York]] and [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] is largely owned by Amtrak (363 of 457 miles),<ref name="FY18 profile" /> working cooperatively with several state and regional commuter agencies.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Amtrak Vision for the Northeast Corridor: 2012 Update Report |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/453/325/Amtrak-Vision-for-the-Northeast-Corridor.pdf |website=Amtrak |date=July 17, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230065625/https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/453/325/Amtrak-Vision-for-the-Northeast-Corridor.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nussbaum|first=Paul|title=Amtrak's high-speed Northeast Corridor plan at $151 billion|url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-10/news/32602302_1_amtrak-president-joseph-boardman-acela-express-northeast-corridor|access-date=July 23, 2013|newspaper=The Inquirer|date=July 10, 2012|archive-date=March 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323014313/http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-10/news/32602302_1_amtrak-president-joseph-boardman-acela-express-northeast-corridor|url-status=dead}}</ref> Between New Haven, Connecticut, and New Rochelle, New York, Northeast Corridor trains travel on the [[Metro-North Railroad]]'s [[New Haven Line]], which is owned and operated by the [[Connecticut Department of Transportation]] and the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]].
* [[Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line|Keystone Corridor]]: Amtrak owns the 104.2-mile line from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.<ref name="FY18 profile" /> As a result of an investment partnership with the [[Pennsylvania|Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]], signal and track improvements that were completed in October 2006 allow all-electric service with a top speed of {{convert|110|mph|km/h}} to run along the corridor.
* [[Empire Connection|Empire Corridor]]: Amtrak owns the {{convert|11|mi|km|sigfig=2}} between New York Penn Station and [[Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx|Spuyten Duyvil, New York]]. In 2012, Amtrak leased the {{convert|94|mi|km|sigfig=3}} between [[Poughkeepsie, New York]], and [[Schenectady, New York]], from owner [[CSX Transportation|CSX]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Governor Cuomo Announces Hudson Rail Lease – Amtrak/CSX Deal Will Improve Passenger Service, Move Projects Forward|date=December 4, 2012|publisher=Amtrak|location=[[Albany, New York]]|url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/13/26/Amtrak-CSX-Hudson-Line-Release-ATK-12-126.pdf|access-date=December 5, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330181753/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/13/26/Amtrak-CSX-Hudson-Line-Release-ATK-12-126.pdf|archive-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> In addition, Amtrak owns the tracks across the [[Whirlpool Rapids Bridge]] and short approach sections near it.<ref>{{citation |title=STB Decision Docket No. AB 279 (Sub-No.6X) |url=http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/9ad840a5d32369e285257a4f004b7211?OpenDocument |format=PDF |access-date=September 10, 2013 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111031221/http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/9ad840a5d32369e285257a4f004b7211?OpenDocument |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Michigan Line]]: Amtrak acquired the {{cvt|98|miles|km}} of [[Porter, Indiana]], to [[Kalamazoo, Michigan]], section of the former [[Michigan Central Railroad|Michigan Central]] main line from [[Conrail]] in 1976.
* [[New Haven–Springfield Line]]: Amtrak purchased the {{convert|62|mi|km}} between [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]] and [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] from Penn Central in 1976.{{Sfn|Karr|2017|pp=86-87}}
* [[Post Road Branch]]: {{convert|12.42|mi|km|sigfig=4}}, [[Castleton-on-Hudson, New York|Castleton-on-Hudson]] to [[Rensselaer, New York]]

In addition to these lines, Amtrak owns station and yard tracks in Chicago, Los Angeles,<ref>{{CA rail schematics}}</ref> New Orleans, New York City, [[Oakland, California|Oakland]],<ref>{{CA rail schematics}}</ref> [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Portland, Oregon]], [[Seattle]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2016 |title=Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2016, State of Washington |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/statefactsheets/WASHINGTON16.pdf |access-date=September 8, 2025 |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251003002507/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/statefactsheets/WASHINGTON16.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Philadelphia]], and Washington, D.C. Amtrak leases station and yard tracks in [[Hialeah, Florida|Hialeah]], near Miami, Florida, from the State of Florida.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

Amtrak owns New York Penn Station, Chicago Union Station, Philadelphia 30th Street Station, Baltimore Penn Station and Providence Station. Through the [[Washington Terminal Company]], in which it owns a 99.7 percent interest, it owns the rail infrastructure around [[Washington Union Station]]. It also holds a 99% interest in 30th Street Limited, a partnership responsible for redeveloping the area in and around Philadelphia's 30th Street Station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secinfo.com/dRqWm.3113.htm|title=SEC Info - A/P I Deposit Corp - 'S-3' on 1/11/02|website=secinfo.com|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=September 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904011845/http://www.secinfo.com/dRqWm.3113.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Amtrak also owns Passenger Railroad Insurance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Email FS - FY02 |url=http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/02financial.pdf |website=Amtrak |access-date=November 23, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624184931/http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/02financial.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2008}}</ref>

=== Service lines ===
{{See also|Long-distance Amtrak routes|label 1=Long Distance Service Line}}
Amtrak organizes its business into six "service lines", which are treated like divisions at most companies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FY 2022-2027 Service and Asset Line Plans |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/businessplanning/Amtrak-Service-Asset-Line-Plans-FY22-27.pdf |location=Washington |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412012322/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/businessplanning/Amtrak-Service-Asset-Line-Plans-FY22-27.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Three service lines relate directly to rail operations: Northeast Corridor, which operates Amtrak's high-speed Acela and Northeast Regional trains; State Supported, which provides service on corridor routes of less than {{cvt|750|miles|km|sigfig=4}} through cost-sharing agreements with state governments;<ref>{{cite web | url= https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1098 | title= Senate Floor Analysis -- An act to add Sections 14072.8 and 14072.10 to, and to add and repeal Section 14072.6 of, the Government Code, relating to transportation. | author= California State Senate Rules Committee | date= August 27, 2024 | publisher= [[California Office of Legislative Counsel]] | access-date= September 30, 2024 | archive-date= November 30, 2024 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20241130202055/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1098 | url-status= live }}</ref> and [[Amtrak Long Distance|Long Distance]], which operates routes over {{cvt|750|miles|km|sigfig=4}} and receives financial support from the federal government.

Three additional service lines manage Amtrak's additional revenue services, net profit from which is used to fund rail operations: Real Estate & Commercial manages property owned by Amtrak, Infrastructure Access/Reimbursable charges other railroads for access to Amtrak owned tracks and performs maintenance work that can be reimbursed by other railroads or state governments, and Ancillary provides other services including operating commuter trains under contract, establishing Amtrak Thruway connecting services, operating charter trains, and hauling private railcars.

=== Accessibility ===
As of July 2023, 117 of 385 stations were in compliance with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Amtrak has made progress bringing stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but faces challenges in completing work by its target date |url=https://amtrakoig.gov/news/audits-press-release/amtrak-has-made-progress-bringing-stations-compliance-americans |website=AMTRAK [[Office of Inspector General (United States)|Office Of Inspector General]] |language=en |date=September 18, 2023 |access-date=October 1, 2025 |archive-date=April 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424005640/https://amtrakoig.gov/news/audits-press-release/amtrak-has-made-progress-bringing-stations-compliance-americans |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Rolling stock==
{{Excerpt|List of Amtrak rolling stock}}

==On-board services==

===Classes of service===
{{Stack|
[[File:Viewliner (13970131747).jpg|thumb|right|The interior of a [[Viewliner]] sleeping car bedroom with the lower bed down]]
[[File:Amfleet (14156927994).jpg|thumb|right|The interior of a long-distance [[Amfleet|Amfleet II]] coach, prior to the completion of recent refurbishments]]
}}

Amtrak offers four classes of service: First Class, First Class Sleeper Service, Business Class, and Coach Class:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train Onboard Features & Amenities |url=https://www.amtrak.com/onboard |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Amtrak |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230172604/https://www.amtrak.com/onboard |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''First Class''': First Class service is offered on only the ''[[Acela]]''. Seats are larger than those of Business Class and come in a variety of seating styles (single, facing singles with table, double, facing doubles with table and wheelchair accessible). First Class is located in a separate car from business class and is located at the end of the train (to reduce the number of passengers walking in the aisles). A car attendant provides passengers with hot towel service, a complimentary meal and alcoholic beverages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First Class Seating |url=https://www.amtrak.com/first-class-seat |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Amtrak |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230172606/https://www.amtrak.com/first-class-seat |url-status=live }}</ref> First Class passengers have access to lounges located at most larger stations.<ref name="Lounges" />
* '''First Class Sleeper Service''': Private room accommodations on long-distance trains, including [[roomette]]s, bedrooms, bedroom suites, accessible bedrooms, and, on some trains, family bedrooms. Included in the price of a room are attendant service and on most routes, full hot meals. At night, attendants convert rooms into sleeping areas with fold-down beds and linens. Shower facilities with towels and bar soap are available. Complimentary juice, coffee and bottled water are included as well. [[Sleeping car|Sleeper car]] passengers have access to all passenger facilities aboard the train and lounges located at select stations.<ref name="Lounges" />
* '''Business Class''': Business Class seating is offered on the ''Acela'', ''[[Northeast Regional]]'', many short-haul corridor trains and some long-distance trains. It is the standard class of service on the ''Acela.'' On all other trains where it is offered, Business Class is located in a dedicated car or section of the train. While the specific features vary by route, many include extra legroom and complimentary non-alcoholic drinks. Seats in business class recline and feature a fold-down tray table, footrest, individual reading light, and power outlet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business Class Seating |url=https://www.amtrak.com/business-class |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Amtrak |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230172607/https://www.amtrak.com/business-class |url-status=live }}</ref> Passengers have access to some lounges, but busier locations may exclude Business Class customers.<ref name="Lounges" />
* {{anchor|quiet car}}'''Coach Class''': Coach Class is the standard class of service on all Amtrak trains except the ''Acela''. Seats in coach recline and feature a fold-down tray table, footrest, individual reading light, and power outlet. Coach cars on long-distance trains are configured with fewer seats per car so that passengers have additional legroom and seats which are equipped with leg rests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coach Class Seating on Reserved Services |url=https://www.amtrak.com/reserved-coach-class-seat |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Amtrak |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230172607/https://www.amtrak.com/reserved-coach-class-seat |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Coach Seating on Unreserved Services |url=https://www.amtrak.com/unreserved-coach-class-seat |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Amtrak |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230172606/https://www.amtrak.com/unreserved-coach-class-seat |url-status=live }}</ref> Some corridor and short-distance trains have one coach car designated as a "quiet car" where loud conversations, phone calls, and sound played from electronic devices are not permitted.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amtrak Quiet Car |url=https://www.amtrak.com/quiet-car |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625052110/https://www.amtrak.com/quiet-car |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 14, 2014 |title=Sound of Silence: The Amtrak Quiet Car |url=http://blog.amtrak.com/2014/11/sound-silence-amtrak-quiet-car/ |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402134013/https://blog.amtrak.com/2014/11/sound-silence-amtrak-quiet-car/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Wi-Fi and electronic services===
Amtrak first offered free [[Wi-Fi]] service to passengers aboard the ''Downeaster'' in 2008, the ''Acela'' and the ''[[Northeast Regional]]'' trains on the NEC in 2010, and the ''[[Amtrak Cascades]]'' in 2011. In February 2014, Amtrak rolled out Wi-Fi on corridor trains out of Chicago. When all the Midwest cars offer the AmtrakConnect service, about 85% of all Amtrak passengers nationwide will have Wi-Fi access.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/journey-with-wi-fi-train-station|access-date=August 27, 2012|title=Journey with Wi-Fi|website=Amtrak|archive-date=August 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828224128/http://www.amtrak.com/journey-with-wi-fi-train-station|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|title=AmtrakConnect® Wi-Fi Coming To Midwest Corridors |date=December 19, 2013 |publisher=Amtrak|url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/92/472/Amtrak-Midwest-Wi-Fi-ATK-13-154.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203144227/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/92/472/Amtrak-Midwest-Wi-Fi-ATK-13-154.pdf|archive-date=February 3, 2014}}</ref> {{as of|2014}}, most Amtrak passengers have access to free Wi-Fi. The service has developed a reputation for being unreliable and slow due to its cellular network connection;<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/12/wireless-internet-amtrak| title=Wi-Fi should actually work| newspaper=The Economist| date=December 20, 2011| access-date=July 13, 2017| archive-date=July 2, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702111913/http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/12/wireless-internet-amtrak| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nixon |first1=Ron |title=Wi-Fi and Amtrak: Missed Connections |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/travel/wi-fi-and-amtrak-missed-connections.html |work=The New York Times |date=May 30, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2017 |archive-date=December 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214092806/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/travel/wi-fi-and-amtrak-missed-connections.html |url-status=live }}</ref> on some routes it is usually unusable, either freezing on the login page or, if it manages to log in, failing to provide any internet bandwidth.

Wi-Fi service is considered to be more reliable on routes running east of the Mississippi River and along the coastlines; service is less reliable on east–west routes such as Sunset Limited, Southwest Chief and Texas Eagle, as these contain rail segments passing through large sections of wilderness with sparse cell coverage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Jill |title=I spent 8 hours on Amtrak's Texas Eagle for $47... |url=https://www.insider.com/what-its-like-taking-amtrak-through-texas-san-antonio-alpine-2022-7#there-was-no-wifi-on-board-and-i-didnt-have-cell-service-for-half-of-the-journey-7 |website=Business Insider |publisher=Insider |access-date=September 14, 2023 |ref=WiFiInsider}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Jill |title=9 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Booked An Amtrak Sleeper Car |url=https://www.travelawaits.com/2756688/amtrak-sleeper-car-things-to-know-before-you-book/ |website=Travel Awaits |date=May 14, 2022 |publisher=Quillt |access-date=September 14, 2023 |ref=WiFiQuillt |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105203031/https://www.travelawaits.com/2756688/amtrak-sleeper-car-things-to-know-before-you-book/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Amtrak launched an [[Electronic ticket|e-ticketing]] system on the ''[[Downeaster (train)|Downeaster]]'' in November 2011<ref>{{cite news |last=Billings |first=Randy |date=November 11, 2011 |title=Amtrak Downeaster rolls out electronic tickets, improved Wi-Fi |newspaper=Sun Journal |url=http://www.sunjournal.com/news/business/2011/11/11/amtrak-downeaster-rolls-out-electronic-tickets-improved-wi-fi/1113947 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053856/http://www.sunjournal.com/news/business/2011/11/11/amtrak-downeaster-rolls-out-electronic-tickets-improved-wi-fi/1113947 |archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> and rolled it out nationwide on July 30, 2012. Amtrak officials said the system gives "more accurate knowledge in realtime of who is on the train which greatly improves the safety and security of passengers; en route reporting of onboard equipment problems to mechanical crews which may result in faster resolution of the issue; and more efficient financial reporting".<ref>{{cite web |last=National Railroad Passenger Corporation |title=eTickets Now Accepted on Every Amtrak Train |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/197/699/eTickets-Now-Accepted-on-Every-Amtrak-Trains-ATK-12-069.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804023234/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/197/699/eTickets-Now-Accepted-on-Every-Amtrak-Trains-ATK-12-069.pdf |archive-date=August 4, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |work=Amtrak News Release (30 July 2012) |publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation}}</ref>

===Baggage and cargo services===
[[File:Viewliner 61049 on Amtrak train 66 at New London Union Station, September 2016.JPG|thumb|right|A [[Viewliner|Viewliner II]] baggage car at [[New London Union Station|New London]] in 2016]]
Amtrak allows carry-on baggage on all routes; services with [[Passenger car (rail)#Baggage car|baggage cars]] allow checked baggage at selected stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amtrak.com/checked-baggage |title=Checked Baggage |website=Amtrak |access-date=May 6, 2019 |archive-date=May 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506011923/https://www.amtrak.com/checked-baggage |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/UPDATED-Baggage-fact-sheet-7_5_16.pdf |title=Amtrak Baggage Allowance |website=Amtrak |date=July 5, 2016 |access-date=May 6, 2019 |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216012530/http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/UPDATED-Baggage-fact-sheet-7_5_16.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> With the passage of the [[Roger Wicker#Gun law|Wicker Amendment]] in 2010, passengers are allowed to put lawfully owned, unloaded firearms in checked Amtrak baggage, reversing a decade-long ban on such carriage.<ref>{{cite news |first=Tony |last=Bizjak |title=Amtrak to let passengers bring guns on most trains |date=November 30, 2010 |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2010/11/30/3220359/amtrak-to-let-passengers-bring.html |work=[[Sacramento Bee]] |access-date=May 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203161223/http://www.sacbee.com/2010/11/30/3220359/amtrak-to-let-passengers-bring.html |archive-date=December 3, 2010}}</ref>

The [[Amtrak Express]] cargo service used to provide small-package and less-than-truckload shipping between most Amtrak stations that handle checked baggage (over 100 cities). Cargo traveled alongside checked luggage in baggage cars. However, the service was suspended in 2020. {{as of|2025|july}}, there have been no plans to resume service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amtrak Baggage Policy |url=https://www.amtrak.com/baggage-policy |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=www.amtrak.com |language=en |archive-date=July 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250701153321/https://www.amtrak.com/baggage-policy |url-status=live }}</ref>

Amtrak is popular among [[bicycle touring]] enthusiasts due to the ease of riding with a bike. In contrast to airlines, which require riders to dismantle their bicycles and place them in specialized bags, most Amtrak trains have onboard bike racks in either the coaches or checked baggage car. Bicycle reservations are required on most routes and cost up to $20.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bring Your Bike on Amtrak |url=https://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard |access-date=August 9, 2022 |website=www.amtrak.com |language=en |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818130244/https://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Food services===
On most routes, Amtrak provides a Cafe where passengers can purchase food and drinks. On long distance trains, passengers in sleeper accommodations are provided complimentary meals. Passengers on the Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited, and the Texas Eagle from Chicago to San Antonio have Flex Dining, which features microwaved meals. Passengers on all other routes like the California Zephyr and Sunset Limited have Traditional Dining, which features chef-cooked meals. 
[[File:Amtrak Cascades Mac.jpg|thumb|[[Macaroni and cheese]] served onboard an [[Amtrak Cascades]] train]]
==Labor issues==
As of 2023, the average Amtrak employee annual salary was $121,000 per year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Expert: 'Train is going in the wrong direction' as report shows average Amtrak employee makes $121,000 annually |url=https://cbs6albany.com/news/nation-world/expert-train-is-going-in-the-wrong-direction-as-report-shows-average-amtrak-employee-makes-121000-annually-transportation-open-the-books-federal-employees-tax-payer-funded |access-date=October 6, 2023 |work=[[WRGB]] CBS 6 News |date=September 29, 2023 |language=en |quote=the average Amtrak employee makes $121,000, putting the company at the top of the top paid list of federal agencies |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105203029/https://cbs6albany.com/news/nation-world/expert-train-is-going-in-the-wrong-direction-as-report-shows-average-amtrak-employee-makes-121000-annually-transportation-open-the-books-federal-employees-tax-payer-funded |url-status=live }}</ref>

Most Amtrak workers are legally classified as "railroad employees" and thus make contributions to the federal [[Railroad Retirement Board|Railroad Retirement]] system. The contribution rate is determined on an industry-wide basis, rather than with reference to the employer for whom the employees work; while most freight railroads employ a large number of contract workers to reduce the amount owed, Amtrak is prohibited by law from contracting out many positions and thus contributes disproportionately more funding to the system. Some critics, such as the [[National Association of Railroad Passengers]], argue that Amtrak is thereby "subsidizing" freight railroad pensions by as much as US$150&nbsp;million/year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.narprail.org/resources/fact-sheets/328-amtrak-myths-a-facts |title=Amtrak Myths & Facts: 4. Myth: Private Freight Railroad companies subsidize Amtrak. |website=National Association of Railroad Passengers |date=August 3, 2011 |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604101110/http://www.narprail.org/resources/fact-sheets/328-amtrak-myths-a-facts |archive-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref>

In recent times, efforts at reforming passenger rail have addressed labor issues. In 1997 Congress released Amtrak from a prohibition on hiring contractors outside the corporation (and outside its unions);<ref>''Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997.'' 105th Cong. (January 7, 1997)</ref> since that time, many of Amtrak's employees have been working without a contract. The most recent contract, signed in 1999, was mainly retroactive.{{Clarify|date=June 2025}}

Because of the fragmentation of railroad unions, Amtrak workers are represented by 14 separate trade unions, with as many as 24 simultaneous contracts between them as of 2009, a situation which has made contract negotiations more difficult.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/934121/sidetracked_negotiations_the_contract_for_nearly_10000_unionized_amtrak_employees/index.html |title=Sidetracked Negotiations: The Contract for Nearly 10,000 Unionized Amtrak Employees Expired on December 31, 1999. Since Then, Talks Have Failed to Make Much Headway |date=May 13, 2007 |website=redOrbit |access-date=January 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212052252/http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/934121/sidetracked_negotiations_the_contract_for_nearly_10000_unionized_amtrak_employees/index.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007}}</ref> Former Amtrak president [[Alexander Kummant]] followed a cooperative posture with Amtrak's unions, ruling out plans to privatize large parts of the company's workforce.<ref name="surprising forecast" />

== Environmental impact ==
Per passenger mile, Amtrak is 30–40 percent more energy-efficient than commercial airlines and automobiles overall,<ref name="bts-energy" /> though the exact figures for particular routes depend on load factor along with other variables. Amtrak's [[Amtrak rolling stock|rolling stock]] is mostly [[Diesel locomotive|diesel]], with electric locomotives being used along the Northeast Corridor and a limited number of [[Dual mode locomotive|dual-mode]] locomotives along the [[Empire Corridor]]; electrified trains are considerably more efficient than diesels, produce less carbon dioxide, and can feed energy captured from [[Regenerative brake#The motor as a brake|regenerative braking]] back into the electrical grid.

In 2005, Amtrak's carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per passenger were 0.411 lbs/mi (0.116&nbsp;kg per km).<ref>{{cite web |title=Updated Comparison of Energy Use & CO2 Emissions From Different Transportation Modes |url=http://www.buses.org/files/2008ABAFoundationComparativeFuelCO2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515034836/http://www.buses.org/files/2008ABAFoundationComparativeFuelCO2.pdf |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2012}} table 1.1, figures from 2005. Cf. http://docs.wri.org/wri_co2comm_2002_commuting_protected.xls {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112035414/http://docs.wri.org/wri_co2comm_2002_commuting_protected.xls|date=January 12, 2016}}, sheet 8, cell C33 (figures from 2002).</ref> This amount is similar to that of a car with two people,<ref>respectively http://docs.wri.org/wri_co2comm_2002_commuting_protected.xls {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112035414/http://docs.wri.org/wri_co2comm_2002_commuting_protected.xls|date=January 12, 2016}}, sheet 8, cell C36 (figures from 2002); {{cite web |title=Updated Comparison of Energy Use &CO2 Emissions From Different Transportation Modes |url=http://www.buses.org/files/2008ABAFoundationComparativeFuelCO2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515034836/http://www.buses.org/files/2008ABAFoundationComparativeFuelCO2.pdf |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2012}} table 1.1, figures from 2007.</ref> about twice as high as the UK rail average (where more of the system is electrified),<ref>{{cite web |title=figures from 2008–9 |url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling-c9-environ.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324105139/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling-c9-environ.pdf |archive-date=March 24, 2009 |access-date=November 23, 2012}}</ref> about four times the average US motorcoach,<ref>{{cite web |title=Figures from 2007 |url=http://www.buses.org/files/2008ABAFoundationComparativeFuelCO2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515034836/http://www.buses.org/files/2008ABAFoundationComparativeFuelCO2.pdf |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2012}}</ref> and about eight times a Finnish electric intercity train or fully loaded fifty-seat coach.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Average emissions of railway |title=Traffic in Finland |url=http://lipasto.vtt.fi/yksikkopaastot/henkiloliikennee/raideliikennee/junat_henkiloe.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225092441/http://lipasto.vtt.fi/yksikkopaastot/henkiloliikennee/raideliikennee/junat_henkiloe.htm |archive-date=February 25, 2012 |access-date=May 6, 2012 |website=www.lipasto.vtt.fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Carrying capacity |title=Gross vehicle mass 18 |url=http://www.lipasto.vtt.fi/yksikkopaastot/henkiloliikennee/tieliikennee/linja-autote/latiee.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719225232/http://www.lipasto.vtt.fi/yksikkopaastot/henkiloliikennee/tieliikennee/linja-autote/latiee.htm |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=May 6, 2012 |website=www.lipasto.vtt.fi}}</ref> It is, however, about two thirds of the raw CO<sub>2</sub>-equivalent emissions of a long-distance domestic flight.<ref>{{cite web |last1=LIPASTO |title=Average passenger |url=http://lipasto.vtt.fi/yksikkopaastot/henkiloliikennee/ilmaliikennee/ilmae.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719224215/http://lipasto.vtt.fi/yksikkopaastot/henkiloliikennee/ilmaliikennee/ilmae.htm |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=May 6, 2012 |website=www.lipasto.vtt.fi}}</ref>

Diesel trains cause additional regional air pollution, impacting the ecosystems around the sites of operation. More stops along train routes can lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Givoni |first1=Moshe |last2=Brand |first2=Christian |last3=Watkiss |first3=Paul |title=Are Railways Climate Friendly? |journal=Built Environment |date=March 1, 2009 |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=70–86 |doi=10.2148/benv.35.1.70 |jstor=23289645 |s2cid=154527995 |url=https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:cd7d3eb7-e57c-427d-9ec6-70da72389cce |access-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324110324/https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:cd7d3eb7-e57c-427d-9ec6-70da72389cce |url-status=live }}</ref>

Amtrak rail facilities located in [[Delaware]] were cited as the state's largest source of [[polychlorinated biphenyl]] (PCB) contamination into the Delaware River, which build up in the tissue of animals and are human carcinogens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=E&E News: Judge dismisses Del. attorney general's suit over PCB contamination |url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2022/07/12/judge-dismisses-del-attorney-generals-suit-over-pcb-contamination-00045293 |access-date=November 1, 2022 |website=subscriber.politicopro.com |language=en |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008185010/https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2022/07/12/judge-dismisses-del-attorney-generals-suit-over-pcb-contamination-00045293 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Environmental effects on Amtrak ===
Amtrak railways and surrounding infrastructure are susceptible to degradation by natural causes over time.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chinowsky |first1=Paul |last2=Helman |first2=Jacob |last3=Gulati |first3=Sahil |last4=Neumann |first4=James |last5=Martinich |first5=Jeremy |title=Impacts of climate change on operation of the US rail network |journal=Transport Policy |date=March 2019 |volume=75 |pages=183–191 |doi=10.1016/j.tranpol.2017.05.007 |s2cid=158453316|doi-access=free }}</ref> Railways experience water damage from climate-change backed increases in rainfall in wet areas, and rail buckling caused by hotter and dryer seasons in naturally dry areas.<ref name="Dobney Baker Quinn Chapman 2009" />

In September 2021, the remnants of [[Hurricane Ida]] flooded the Amtrak Northeast Corridor running from Boston to Washington, D.C., and caused it to shut down for an entire day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=E&E News: Summer storms were a climate wake-up call for subways |url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2021/10/08/summer-storms-were-a-climate-change-wake-up-call-for-subways-281721 |access-date=November 1, 2022 |website=subscriber.politicopro.com |language=en |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009200640/https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2021/10/08/summer-storms-were-a-climate-change-wake-up-call-for-subways-281721 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2023, heavy snowfall and debris on tracks caused major disruptions from delays to cancellations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cancellations, other operational issues plague Amtrak |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/cancellations-other-operational-issues-plague-amtrak/ |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=Trains |date=March 3, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=March 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303013919/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/cancellations-other-operational-issues-plague-amtrak/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Public funding==
[[File:AmtrakFunding.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Federal Grant Funding for Amtrak (both nominal and inflation-adjusted), 1973-2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Federal Grants to Amtrak |url=https://railroads.dot.gov/grants-loans/directed-grant-programs/federal-grants-amtrak |website=[[Federal Railroad Administration]] |access-date=January 21, 2025}}</ref>]]
Amtrak receives annual appropriations from federal and state governments to supplement operating and capital programs.

===Funding history===

====1970s to 1990s====
Amtrak commenced operations in 1971 with $40&nbsp;million in direct federal aid, $100&nbsp;million in federally insured loans, and a somewhat larger private contribution.<ref>{{cite book |last=Don |first=Phillips |editor-first=Harold A. |editor-last=Edmonson |date=1972 |title=Journey to Amtrak; The year history rode the passenger train |chapter=Railpax Rescue |location=Milwaukee, WI |publisher=Kalmbach Pub. Co. |pages=8–11}}</ref> Officials expected that Amtrak would break even by 1974, but those expectations proved unrealistic and annual direct federal aid reached a 17-year high in 1981 of $1.25&nbsp;billion.<ref>$709&nbsp;million of the 1981 aid package was for operations. The remainder was capital appropriations. {{Harvnb|Vranich|1997|p=37}}</ref> During the [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|Reagan administration]], appropriations were halved and by 1986, federal support fell to a decade low of $601&nbsp;million, almost none of which were capital appropriations.<ref>National Railroad Passenger Corp. ''Statistical Appendix to Amtrak FY1995 Annual Report'', ''1995 Annual Report'', p.1.</ref> In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Congress continued the reductionist trend even while Amtrak expenses held steady or rose. Amtrak was forced to borrow to meet short-term operating needs, and by 1995 Amtrak was on the brink of a cash crisis and was unable to continue to service its debts.<ref>National Railroad Passenger Corp. ''1999 Annual Report'', p.41.</ref> In response, in 1997 Congress authorized $5.2&nbsp;billion for Amtrak over the next five years – largely to complete the ''Acela'' capital project – on the condition that Amtrak submit to the ultimatum of self-sufficiency by 2003 or liquidation.<ref>''Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997''. 105th Cong. (January 7, 1997). Congressional Budget Office. ''S. 738 Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act'' (July 22, 1997), in ''104th Cong. Senate Report 105-85'' (September 24, 1997).</ref> While Amtrak made financial improvements during this period,{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} it did not achieve self-sufficiency.<ref name="railroadingscuts" />

====2000s====
[[File:NCF59.jpg|thumb|right|Amtrak's ''[[Piedmont (train)|Piedmont]]'' near [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], with a state-owned locomotive. This route is run under a partnership with the [[North Carolina Department of Transportation]], 2003]]
[[File:Amtrak Cascades Talgo trainset near Brackett's Landing in Edmonds, WA.jpg|thumb|[[Amtrak Cascades|Amtrak ''Cascades'']] service with tilting [[Talgo]] trainsets in [[Edmonds, Washington]], 2025]]
In 2004, a stalemate in federal support of Amtrak forced cutbacks in services and routes as well as the resumption of deferred maintenance. In fiscal 2004 and 2005, Congress appropriated about $1.2&nbsp;billion for Amtrak, $300&nbsp;million more than President [[George W. Bush]] had requested. However, the company's board requested $1.8&nbsp;billion through fiscal 2006, the majority of which (about $1.3&nbsp;billion) would be used to bring infrastructure, rolling stock, and motive power back to a state of good repair. In Congressional testimony, the DOT Inspector General confirmed that Amtrak would need at least $1.4&nbsp;billion to $1.5&nbsp;billion in fiscal 2006 and $2&nbsp;billion in fiscal 2007 just to maintain the status quo. In 2006, Amtrak received just under $1.4&nbsp;billion, with the condition that Amtrak would reduce (but not eliminate) food and sleeper service losses. Thus, dining service was simplified and now requires two fewer on-board service workers. Only ''[[Auto Train]]'' and ''[[Empire Builder]]'' services continue regular made-on-board meal service. In 2010 the Senate approved a bill to provide $1.96&nbsp;billion to Amtrak, but cut the approval for high-speed rail to a $1&nbsp;billion appropriation.<ref name="railroadingscuts" />

State governments have partially filled the breach left by reductions in federal aid. Several states have entered into operating partnerships with Amtrak, notably California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Missouri, [[Washington (state)|Washington]], North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, Vermont, Maine, and New York, as well as the Canadian province of [[British Columbia]], which provides some of the resources for the operation of the ''[[Amtrak Cascades|Cascades]]'' route.

With the dramatic rise in gasoline prices during 2007–08, Amtrak saw record ridership.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sarah |last=Karush |title=Amtrak announces record annual ridership |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ioQ136um4OUemAM70x_Q0BhuSMYgD93NRBGG0 |agency=Associated Press |location=Washington, D.C. |date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=October 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028200106/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ioQ136um4OUemAM70x_Q0BhuSMYgD93NRBGG0 |archive-date=October 28, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Capping a steady five-year increase in ridership overall, regional lines saw 12% year-over-year growth in May 2008.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Szep |author2=Eric Beech |title=Factbox: Amtrak gets a surge in riders |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1040708220080611?sp=true |work=Reuters |date=June 11, 2008 |access-date=June 14, 2008 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207204752/http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1040708220080611?sp=true |url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 2007, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] passed S. 294, the Passenger Rail Improvement and Investment Act of 2007 (70–22), sponsored by Senators [[Frank Lautenberg]] and [[Trent Lott]]. Despite a veto threat by President Bush, a similar bill passed the House on June 11, 2008, with a veto-proof margin (311–104).<ref>{{cite news|first=Sarah |last=Karush |title=Amtrak funding bill approved by House |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-amtrak0611,0,2335081.story |agency=Associated Press |date=June 11, 2008 |newspaper=Baltimore Sun |access-date=June 14, 2008}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The final bill, spurred on by the [[2008 Chatsworth train collision|September 12 Metrolink collision]] in California and retitled [[Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008]], was signed into law by President Bush on October 16, 2008. The bill appropriates $2.6&nbsp;billion a year in Amtrak funding through 2013.<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Hymon |title=Bush signs rail safety and Amtrak bill |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/bottleneck/2008/10/bush-signs-rail.html |work=Los Angeles Times| date=October 16, 2008 |access-date=October 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025083820/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/bottleneck/2008/10/bush-signs-rail.html| archive-date=October 25, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====2010s====
Amtrak points out that in 2010, its farebox recovery (percentage of operating costs covered by revenues generated by passenger fares) was 79%, the highest reported for any U.S. passenger railroad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Basic Amtrak Facts |url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1246041980246 |website=Amtrak |access-date=July 30, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726041325/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1246041980246|archive-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> This increased to 94.9% in 2018.<ref name="FY18 profile" />

Amtrak has argued that it needs to increase capital program costs in 2013 in order to replace old train equipment because the multi-year maintenance costs for those trains exceed what it would cost to simply buy new equipment that would not need to be repaired for several years. However, despite an initial request for more than $2.1&nbsp;billion in funding for the year, the company had to deal with a year-over-year cut in 2013 federal appropriations, dropping to under $1.4&nbsp;billion for the first time in several years.<ref name="FY13 business plan" /> Amtrak stated in 2010 that the backlog of needed repairs of the track it owns on the Northeast Corridor included over 200 bridges, most dating to the 19th century, tunnels under Baltimore dating to the [[American Civil War]] era and functionally obsolete [[Railroad switch|track switches]] which would cost $5.2&nbsp;billion to repair (more than triple Amtrak's total annual budget).<ref name="FY13 business plan" /> Amtrak's budget is allocated on only a yearly basis, and it has been argued by Joseph Vranich that this makes multi-year development programs and long-term fiscal planning difficult if not impossible.<ref name="Vranich 2004" />{{page needed|date=July 2015}}

In Fiscal Year 2011, the U.S. Congress granted Amtrak $563&nbsp;million for operating and $922&nbsp;million for capital programs.<ref>{{cite web|last=U.S. Conference of Mayors |title=III. Transportation |url=http://www.usmayors.org/cdbg/documents/FY11-FinalAppropriations.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419232907/http://www.usmayors.org/cdbg/documents/FY11-FinalAppropriations.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2011 |work=Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations (HR 1473) |publisher=U.S. Conference of Mayors |access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref>

====2020s====
In 2021, the [[117th United States Congress]] passed and President [[Joe Biden]] signed the [[Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act]], which directly appropriated $66 billion for rail over a five-year period, of which at least $18 billion is designated for expanding passenger rail service to new corridors, and it authorized an additional $36 billion. Amtrak received $22 billion in advance appropriations and $19 billion in fully authorized funds.<ref name="FRA 2021">Refer to infographic PNG. {{cite web | title=FRA | website=Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Information from FRA | date=November 15, 2021 | url=https://railroads.dot.gov/IIJA | access-date=July 11, 2023 | archive-date=July 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711115955/https://railroads.dot.gov/BIL | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Controversy===
Government aid to Amtrak was controversial from the beginning. The formation of Amtrak in 1971 was criticized as a bailout serving corporate rail interests and union railroaders, not the traveling public. Critics have asserted that Amtrak has proven incapable of operating as a business and that it does not provide valuable transportation services meriting public support,<ref name="Vranich 2004" />{{page needed|date=July 2015}} a "mobile money-burning machine".<ref>Wicker, Tom. ''In the Nation; Young David's Tantrum.'' ''The New York Times'', p. A31 (May 3, 1985)</ref> Many fiscal conservatives have argued that subsidies should be ended, national rail service terminated, and the NEC turned over to private interests.<ref>Frailey, Fred W. ''Can Amtrak Survive the Budget Cutters?'', ''U.S. News & World Report'', p. 52 (April 13, 1981).</ref> Critics also question Amtrak's energy efficiency,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/will-why-liberals-love-trains-68597|title=Will: Why Liberals Love Trains|first=George F. |last=Will|date=February 27, 2011|website=Newsweek|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=July 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724015735/https://www.newsweek.com/will-why-liberals-love-trains-68597|url-status=live}}</ref> though the [[United States Department of Energy|U.S. Department of Energy]] considers Amtrak among the most energy-efficient forms of transportation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/Title_File:_Copy_Page&cid=1093554056875&c=am2Copy&ssid=565 |title=Inside Amtrak – News & Media – Energy Efficient Travel |website=Amtrak |access-date=January 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212012051/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FTitle_File%3A_Copy_Page&cid=1093554056875&c=am2Copy&ssid=565 |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, which established Amtrak, specifically states that, "The Corporation will not be an agency or establishment of the United States Government".<ref>{{cite web |author=((91st Congress of the United States of America)) |title=Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970: Section 301: Creation of the Corporation |url=http://history.amtrak.com/archives/rail-passenger-service-act-of-1970 |website=United States Government |access-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-date=August 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806034240/http://history.amtrak.com/archives/rail-passenger-service-act-of-1970 |url-status=live}}</ref> Then [[common stock]] was issued in 1971 to railroads that contributed capital and equipment; these shares convey almost no benefits,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=4571&type=0&sequence=6 |title=The Past and Future of U.S. Passenger Rail Service (sec. 4 n.21) |date=September 2003 |website=[[Congressional Budget Office]] |access-date=November 14, 2008 |archive-date=November 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113102622/http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=4571&type=0&sequence=6 |url-status=dead}}</ref> but their holders<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/transportation/rail/04-30-03/04-30-03memo.html |title=Subcommittee on Railroads Hearing on Current Amtrak Issues |date=April 30, 2003 |website=U.S. House of Representatives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110231722/http://www.house.gov/transportation/rail/04-30-03/04-30-03memo.html |archive-date=November 10, 2006}}</ref> declined a 2002 buy-out offer by Amtrak. There are currently{{When|date=January 2024}} 109.4 million shares of preferred stock, at a par value of $100 per share, all held by the US government. As of February 2015, there were 9.4 million shares of common stock, with a par value of $10 per share, held by [[American Premier Underwriters]] (53%), [[BNSF]] (35%), [[Canadian Pacific]] (7%) and [[Canadian National]] (5%).<ref>{{cite web |first1=Joseph |last1=Vranich |first2=Cornelius |last2=Chapman |first3=Edward L. |last3=Hudgins |name-list-style=amp |date=February 8, 2002 |title=A Plan to Liquidate Amtrak |website=Cato Institute |url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa425.pdf |access-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015233804/http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa425.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xlYelsGU4kEN7lh1UqVxfG7o3xq9_rhn/view?usp=sharing Amtrak Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that list complete number of Amtrak issued Common and Preferred stock shares and shareholders]Retrieved on May 27, 2022 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527183146/https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xlYelsGU4kEN7lh1UqVxfG7o3xq9_rhn/view?usp=sharing |date=May 27, 2022 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230430091700/https://www.railwayage.com/news/fini-to-saga-of-amtraks-common-stock/ Fini to saga of Amtrak's common stock] ''[[Railway Age]]'' February 26, 2015</ref>

==Leadership==
{{Update section|date=September 2024}}
In addition to the [[United States Secretary of Transportation]] and its CEO, Amtrak's Board of Directors has eight presidentially-nominated and senate-confirmed seats. Presidentially appointed members serve nominally five-year terms but are allowed to serve until their successor is confirmed, and no more than five of the eight may belong to one political party. Of the eight presidentially appointed members, a minimum of two must and maximum of four may reside along or near the [[Northeast Corridor]] (defined as Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island), while the other four to six must reside in a state served by an Amtrak-operated long-distance or state-supported route outside of the Northeast Corridor. At least one of these eight must be an individual with a disability.<ref name="USC">{{USCode|49|24302}}</ref>

The Secretary may be represented at Board meetings by their designee.<ref name="USC" />

===Current board members===
The current board members {{as of|lc=y|df=US|2025|09|18}}:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.amtrak.com/board-of-directors |title=National Railroad Passenger Corporation Board of Directors |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=February 11, 2025 |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208101725/https://www.amtrak.com/board-of-directors |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Position
! Name
! State of residence
! Party
! Confirmed
! Term expires
|-
! [[United States Secretary of Transportation|Secretary of<br>Transportation]]
| {{sortname|Sean|Duffy}}
| New Jersey
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| {{dts|2025|01|28}}
| No fixed term
|-
! CEO<br>(non-voting)
| ''Vacant''
| 
| 
| 
| No fixed term
|-
! Chair
| {{sortname|Anthony|Coscia}}
| New Jersey
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| {{dts|2010|06|22}}<br>{{dts|2015|12|15}}<br>{{dts|2024|01|23}}
| {{dts|2029|01}}
|-
! Vice Chair
| {{sortname|Joel|Szabat}}
| Maryland
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| {{dts|2024|01|23}}
| {{dts|2029|01}}
|-
! Member
| {{sortname|Lanhee|Chen}}
| California
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| {{dts|2024|12|21}}
| {{dts|2029|12}}
|-
! Member
| {{sortname|Elaine Marie|Clegg}}
| Idaho
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| {{dts|2024|12|21}}
| {{dts|2029|12}}
|-
! Member
| {{sortname|Christopher|Koos|Chris Koos}}
| Illinois
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| {{dts|2024|01|23}}
| {{dts|2029|01}}

|-
! Member
| {{sortname|David Michael|Capozzi}}
| Maryland
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| {{dts|2024|12|21}}
| {{dts|2029|12}}
|-
! Member
| {{sortname|Ronald L.|Batory}}
| New Mexico
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| {{dts|2024|12|21}}
| {{dts|2029|12}}
|-
! Member
| [[Robert Gleason (politician)|Robert Gleason]]
|Pennsylvania
|{{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|{{dts|2025|09|18}}
|{{dts|2030|09}}
|}

==Incidents==
{{main|List of accidents on Amtrak}}

[[File:1987 Maryland train collision aerial.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|Aerial view of the [[1987 Maryland train collision]]]]

The following are major [[Classification of railway accidents|accidents and incidents]] that involved Amtrak trains:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Event !! Train !! Date !! Location !! Description !! Deaths !! Injuries
|-
| [[1971 Salem, Illinois, derailment]] || ''[[City of New Orleans (train)|City of New Orleans]]'' || June 10, 1971 || [[Salem, Illinois]] || The ''City of New Orleans'' derailed due to a broken locomotive axle. || 11 || 163
|-
| [[Harvey, Illinois train collision|1979 Harvey train crash]] || ''[[Shawnee (train)|Shawnee]]'' || October 12, 1979 || [[Harvey, Illinois]] || The ''Shawnee'' collided with a stationary [[Illinois Central|Illinois Central Gulf]] freight train due to misaligned switches changed by a switchman shortly before the train passed them. || 2 || 38
|-
| [[1987 Maryland train collision]] || ''[[Northeast Regional|Colonial]]'' || January 4, 1987 || [[Chase, Maryland]] || The ''Colonial'' collided with three [[Conrail]] locomotives which had overrun signals. || 16 || 164
|-
| [[1990 Back Bay, Massachusetts train collision]] || ''[[Night Owl (train)|Night Owl]]'' || December 12, 1990 || [[Back Bay, Boston|Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts]] || The ''Night Owl'' derailed due to excessive speed on a curve and collided with a [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority]] commuter train on an adjacent track. || 0 || 453
|-
|[[Big Bayou Canot rail accident|1993 Big Bayou Canot rail accident]]||''[[Sunset Limited]]'' || September 22, 1993 || [[Mobile, Alabama]] || The ''Sunset Limited'' derailed on a bridge which had been damaged by a [[barge]]. || 47 || 103
|-
| [[1995 Palo Verde, Arizona derailment]] || ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' || October 9, 1995 || [[Palo Verde, Arizona]] || The ''Sunset Limited'' derailed because of track sabotage. || 1 || 78
|-
| [[1996 Maryland train collision]] || ''[[Capitol Limited (Amtrak train)|Capitol Limited]]'' || February 16, 1996 || [[Silver Spring, Maryland]] || The ''Capitol Limited'' collided with a [[MARC Train|Maryland Area Regional Commuter]] train which had overrun signals. || 11 || 26
|-
| [[1999 Bourbonnais, Illinois, train crash]] || ''[[City of New Orleans (train)|City of New Orleans]]'' || March 15, 1999 || [[Bourbonnais, Illinois]] || The ''City of New Orleans'' collided with a semi-truck hauling steel that was trying to beat the train across a grade crossing. Eleven of the train's fourteen passenger cars derailed, hitting freight cars on an adjacent track. || 11 || 122
|-
| [[2015 Philadelphia train derailment]] || ''[[Northeast Regional]]'' || May 12, 2015 || [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] || A ''Northeast Regional'' derailed due to excessive speed on a curve. || 8 || 200+
|-
| [[2017 Washington train derailment]] || ''[[Amtrak Cascades|Cascades]]'' || December 18, 2017 || [[DuPont, Washington]] || A ''Cascades'' train derailed due to excessive speed on a curve.|| 3 || 62
|-
| [[Cayce, South Carolina train collision|2018 Cayce, South Carolina train collision]] || ''[[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]]'' || February 4, 2018 || [[Cayce, South Carolina]] || The ''Silver Star'' collided head-on into a parked [[CSX Transportation|CSX]] freight train, due to a track switch being improperly set by the conductor of the CSX train. || 2 || 116
|-
|[[2021 Montana train derailment]] || ''[[Empire Builder]]'' || September 25, 2021 || [[Joplin, Montana]] || The westbound ''Empire Builder'' derailed at the control point East Buelow, with 146 passengers and 16 crew members on board. || 3 || 50
|-
| [[2022 Missouri train derailment]] || ''[[Southwest Chief]]'' || June 27, 2022 ||[[Mendon, Missouri]] || The eastbound ''Southwest Chief'' struck a dump truck on the tracks and derailed. || 4 || 50
|}
After settling for $17&nbsp;million in the 2017 Washington state train crash, to prevent further lawsuits, the board adopted a new policy requiring [[arbitration]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/passengers-can-no-longer-sue-amtrak-after-company-loses-millions-in-deadly-derailment-lawsuits/281-408218f9-a196-4551-a01a-63c08afd9ea4|title=Passengers can no longer sue Amtrak after company loses millions in deadly derailment lawsuits|date=November 16, 2019|website=KING5|access-date=November 17, 2019|archive-date=November 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117223823/https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/passengers-can-no-longer-sue-amtrak-after-company-loses-millions-in-deadly-derailment-lawsuits/281-408218f9-a196-4551-a01a-63c08afd9ea4|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Trains|Companies|United States}}

===Topics dealing with Amtrak===
* [[Amtrak Arrow Reservation System]]
* [[Amtrak paint schemes]]
* [[Amtrak Police Department]]
* [[Amtrak Standard Stations Program]]
* [[Beech Grove Shops]]
* [[History of rail transport in the United States]]
* [[List of Amtrak stations]]
* [[Positive train control]]
* [[Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response team]] (VIPR) – [[Transportation Security Administration|TSA]]'s rail security operations
* [[Railway electrification system]]

===Other railway companies===
* [[Auto-Train Corporation]] – Pioneer of car-on-train service
* [[Brightline]] – Privately operated higher-speed intercity rail service between [[Miami]] and [[Orlando, Florida]] that is also constructing a high-speed rail route, dubbed [[Brightline West]] that will run between [[Los Angeles]] and [[Las Vegas]].
* [[Via Rail]] (Canada) - connects with Amtrak
* [[List of railway companies]]

==References==
===Citations===
<references>
<ref name="winner">{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_5FYAAAAIBAJ&pg=7076%2C60999|title=Amtrak winner|date=May 1, 1971|work=Spokane Daily Chronicle|agency=UPI|location=Washington, D.C.|page=12|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=May 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502191632/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_5FYAAAAIBAJ&pg=7076,60999|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="last court test">{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_rteAAAAIBAJ&pg=2580%2C5320|title=Last court test fails to clear Amtrak rails|date=May 1, 1971|work=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|location=Idaho|page=1|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=May 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502191633/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_rteAAAAIBAJ&pg=2580,5320|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="FY18 profile">{{cite report |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/nationalfactsheets/Amtrak-Corporate-Profile-FY2018-0319.pdf |title=Amtrak Company Profile (FY 2018) |date=March 1, 2019 |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=May 27, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412001109/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/nationalfactsheets/Amtrak-Corporate-Profile-FY2018-0319.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=October 26, 2021|title=September 2021 Monthly Performance Report|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2021/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2021.pdf#page=5|url-status=live|access-date=January 10, 2022|archive-date=December 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217090806/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2021/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2021.pdf#page=5}}</ref>
<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=2020 Corporate Profile|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/nationalfactsheets/Amtrak-Company-Profile-FY2020-041921.pdf#page=3|url-status=live|access-date=January 10, 2022|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129041959/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/nationalfactsheets/Amtrak-Company-Profile-FY2020-041921.pdf#page=3}}</ref>
<ref name="Stover-1997-219">{{Harvnb|Stover|1997|p=219}}</ref>
<ref name="NiceD">{{Cite book |title=Amtrak: The History and Politics of a National Railroad |last=Nice |first=David C. |publisher=Lynne Rienner Publishers |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-55587-734-7 |page=24}}</ref>
<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=https://history.amtrak.com/amtraks-history/1980s |title=1980s—Building a Dream |website=Amtrak: History of America's Railroad |access-date=August 14, 2017 |archive-date=August 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814223431/https://history.amtrak.com/amtraks-history/1980s |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="surprising forecast">{{cite news |last1=Wald |first1=Matthew L. |last2=Phillips |first2=Don |title=Surprising Forecast for Amtrak: Growth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/23/washington/23amtrak.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 23, 2006 |access-date=February 14, 2017 |archive-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618083214/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/23/washington/23amtrak.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Boardman selected">{{Cite press release |title=Amtrak Selects Transportation Industry Veteran as President & CEO |date=November 25, 2008 |publisher=Amtrak |url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/News_Release_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1178294246438&ssid=180 |access-date=November 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229110217/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FNews_Release_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1178294246438&ssid=180 |archive-date=December 29, 2008}}</ref>
<ref name="WaPoAnderson">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/06/26/amtrak-names-new-chief-executive/ |title=Amtrak names new chief executive |last=Aratani |first=Lori |date=June 26, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 27, 2017 |archive-date=June 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626205955/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/06/26/amtrak-names-new-chief-executive/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="bts-energy">Figures are from 2008. {{cite web |url=http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_04_20.html |title=Table 4-20: Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes |website=Bureau of Transportation Statistics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007061308/http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_04_20.html |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 25, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="bts-ontime">Figures from 2012. {{cite web |url=http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_73.html |title=Table 1-73: Amtrak On-Time Performance Trends and Hours of Delay by Cause |website=Bureau of Transportation Statistics |access-date=March 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430045955/http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_73.html |archive-date=April 30, 2014 |url-status=dead}}; {{cite web |title=Table 1-66: Flight Operations Arriving On Time by the Largest U.S. Air Carriers |work=Bureau of Transportation Statistics |access-date=March 30, 2014 |url=http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_66.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115015110/http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_66.html |archive-date=January 15, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="amtrakrewards">{{cite web |url=http://www.amtrakguestrewards.com/ |title=Guest Rewards |website=Amtrakguestrewards.com |access-date=November 23, 2012 |archive-date=December 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213185404/https://amtrakguestrewards.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Lounges">{{Cite web |title=Station Lounges |url=https://www.amtrak.com/station-lounges |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Amtrak |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230172604/https://www.amtrak.com/station-lounges |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Dobney Baker Quinn Chapman 2009">{{cite journal |last1=Dobney |first1=K. |last2=Baker |first2=C. J. |last3=Quinn |first3=A. D. |last4=Chapman |first4=L. |date=June 2009 |title=Quantifying the effects of high summer temperatures due to climate change on buckling and rail related delays in south-east United Kingdom |journal=Meteorological Applications |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=245–251 |bibcode=2009MeApp..16..245D |doi=10.1002/met.114 |s2cid=56429333}}</ref>
<ref name="FY13 business plan">{{cite report |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/345/484/AmtrakFY13-Budget-Comprehensive-Business-Plan-w-appx-052413.pdf |title=Amtrak FY13 Comprehensive Business Plan |date=May 2013 |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=October 8, 2013 |archive-date=October 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011233717/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/345/484/AmtrakFY13-Budget-Comprehensive-Business-Plan-w-appx-052413.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="railroadingscuts">{{cite web |url=http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=23903 |title=Senate committee ups Amtrak appropriation, cuts high-speed rail funding |date=July 23, 2010 |website=Progressive Railroading |access-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813111019/http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=23903 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Vranich 2004">{{Harvnb|Vranich|2004}}</ref>
</references>

===Sources===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last=Carper |first=Robert S. |title=American Railroads in Transition; The Passing of the Steam Locomotives |year=1968 |publisher=A. S. Barnes |isbn=978-0-498-06678-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Edmonson |first=Harold A.|title=Journey to Amtrak: The year history rode the passenger train|publisher=Kalmbach Books|year=2000|isbn=978-0-89024-023-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Glischinski |first=Steve |title=Santa Fe Railway |date=1997 |location=Osceola, Wisconsin |publisher=Motorbooks International |isbn=978-0-7603-0380-1}}
* {{cite web |author=[[Government Accountability Office]] |title=Amtrak Management: Systemic Problems Require Actions to Improve Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Accountability |url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06145.pdf |access-date=November 23, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125143343/http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06145.pdf |archive-date=November 25, 2005 |url-status=dead |date=October 2005 }}
* {{cite report |title=Railroad Passenger Train Deficit |last=Hosmer |first=Howard |year=1958 |publisher=Interstate Commerce Commission |docket=31954 |display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite book |last=Karr |first=Ronald Dale |title=The Rail Lines of Southern New England |publisher=Branch Line Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-942147-12-4 |edition=2nd |location=Pepperell, Massachusetts |oclc=1038017689 }}
* {{cite book |last=McCommons |first=James |title=Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service |date=2009 |location=White River Junction, Vermont |publisher=Chelsea Green |isbn=978-1-60358-064-9}}
* {{cite journal |last=McKinney |first=Kevin |title=At the dawn of Amtrak |journal=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |date=June 1991 |pages=34–41 |oclc=23730369 }}
* {{cite web |author=[[Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation]] |title=Analysis of the Causes of AMTRAK Train Delays |publisher=[[United States Department of Transportation]] |url=http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo41459/AMTRAK%20Delays%20Report%5E7-10-12.pdf |date=July 10, 2012 |oclc=862979061 |access-date=July 10, 2015 |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217112903/https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo41459/AMTRAK%20Delays%20Report%5E7-10-12.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book|last1=Peterman|first1=David Randall|title=Amtrak: Overview|date=September 28, 2017|publisher=Congressional Research Service|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44973.pdf|archive-date=August 6, 2020|access-date=December 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806160514/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44973.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{Sanders-Heartland}}
* {{Saunders-Merging Lines}}
* {{cite book |last=Saunders |first=Richard |title=Main Lines: Rebirth of the North American Railroads, 1970–2002 |date=2003 |location=DeKalb, Illinois |publisher=[[Northern Illinois University Press]] |isbn=0-87580-316-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/mainlinesrebirth0000saun }}
* {{Schafer-American passenger train}}
* {{cite journal |last=Schafer |first=Mike |title=Amtrak's Atlas: 1971–1991 |journal=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |date=June 1991}}
* {{Solomon-Amtrak}}
* {{cite book |last=Stover |first=John F. |title=American Railroads |date=1997 |edition=2nd |location=Chicago |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |isbn=0-226-77657-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/americanrailroad00stov }}
* {{cite book |title=Reprieve for the Iron Horse: The AMTRAK Experiment–Its Predecessors and Prospects |publisher=Claitor's Publishing Division |last=Thoms |first=William E. |year=1973 |location=Baton Rouge, LA |oclc=1094744}}
* {{cite book |last=Vranich |first=Joseph |title=Derailed: What Went Wrong and What to Do about America's Passenger Trains |location=New York |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]] |year=1997 |isbn=0-3121-7182-X |url=https://archive.org/details/derailedwhatwent00vran }}
* {{cite book |last=Vranich |first=Joseph |title=End of the Line: The Failure of Amtrak Reform and the Future of America's Passenger Trains |year=2004 |publisher=[[AEI Press]] |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=0-8447-4203-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/endoflinefailure00vran }}
* {{cite book |last=Wilner |first=Frank N. |title=The Amtrak Story |year=1994 |location=Omaha, NE |publisher=Simmons-Boardman |isbn=0-9113-8216-X |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780911382167 }}
* {{cite book|last=Zimmermann|first=Karl R.|title=Amtrak at Milepost 10|publisher=PTJ Publishing|year=1981|isbn=0-937658-06-5}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web |url=https://cdn.muckrock.com/foia_files/FOIAResponseAmtrakNYDOTApplication..pdf#page=15 |title=Articles of Incorporation of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation |date=April 17, 1971 |website=Muckrock.com}}
*{{cite journal |title=Distributive Politics and the Persistence of Amtrak |author=Baron, David P. |journal=[[The Journal of Politics]] |date=August 1990 |volume=52 |issue=3 |pages=883–913| doi=10.2307/2131831 |jstor=2131831 |s2cid=153981819}}
*{{Cite book|last=Fostik|first=John|year=2017|title=Amtrak Across America: An Illustrated History|edition=1st|publisher=Enthusiast Books|isbn=978-1583883501}}
*{{cite book |author1=Hanus, Chris |author2=Shaske, John |year=2009 |title=USA West by Train: The Complete Amtrak Travel Guide |publisher=Way of the Rail Publishing |isbn=978-0-9730897-6-9}}
*{{cite book|author=Pitt, John |year=2008 |title=USA by Rail |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |isbn=978-1-84162-255-2}}
*{{cite book |author=The Staff of Amtrak |year=2011 |title=Amtrak: An American Story (40th Anniversary Book) |publisher=Kalmbach Publishing Company, Books Division |isbn=9780871164445}}
*{{cite book |author=Wilner, Frank N. |year=2013 |title=Amtrak: Past, Present, Future |publisher=Simmons-Boardman Books |isbn=978-0-911-382600}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Amtrak}}
{{Wikivoyage|rail travel in the United States}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.greatamericanstations.com/ Amtrak - Great American Stations]
* [https://www.amtrakconnectsus.com/ Amtrak Connects US] - official website outlining 15-year expansion plans
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618140248/https://history.amtrak.com/ |date=June 18, 2024 |title=Amtrak: History of America's Railroad}}
* [https://sites.northwestern.edu/amtrak50/ All Aboard Amtrak! 50 Years of America's Railroad] - digital exhibit from Northwestern University's Transportation Library for Amtrak's 50th anniversary
* [http://www.timetables.org/ The Museum of Railway Timetables] (Amtrak timetables from 1971 to 2016)

{{Amtrak}}
{{Amtrak routes}}
{{Amtrak rolling stock}}
{{North America class I}}
{{authority control}}

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