Amtrak

America's Railroad

For more than four decades, Amtrak has been safely and efficiently moving generations of Americans where they want to go, whether their journey lasts a few miles or a thousand. But Amtrak does more than move people forward — we help America's economy move full steam ahead. Last year alone, Amtrak contributed over $7.4 billion to the US economy and supported more than 100,000 jobs.

With more scheduled stops at more than 500 communities nationwide, we plan to keeping the momentum going — connecting small towns to urban centers and buying goods and services from every corner of the country to support and maintain our rail network.

The future of passenger rail in America remains bright. Over the last decade, demand for Amtrak services has outpaced growth in the general population. From 2001 to 2012, the US population grew by 12 percent while Amtrak ridership skyrocketed by 40 percent — demonstrating that passenger rail is a travel option Americans desire.

But Amtrak does more than simply operate trains. Here are a few more examples of Amtrak's impact on the economy:

• Six jobs are created across the US for every job in the rail transportation industry
• For every million dollars that Amtrak spends on construction activity, 23 jobs are supported
• 60 American suppliers from more than 50 cities helped support the creation of 70 new locomotives
• For every community Amtrak serves, there are countless more that benefit from our work, and we are honored to serve as America’s Railroad and an engine of economic progress.

Solutions

• Mass Transit Operator

Northeast Corridor

Amtrak owns and operates 363 miles of the 457-mile Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Washington and Boston (a total of 1,219 track miles)

The NEC is home to one of the busiest, most complex, and most technically advanced rail systems in the world, with over 2,000 trains on Amtrak-controlled segments each weekday. This traffic mix includes freight trains traveling at speeds of 30-50 mph, commuter trains at speeds up to 125 mph, Amtrak Regional trains at 110 or 125 mph, and Acela Express trains that can reach 150 mph. This makes it the fastest railroad in the Americas, and among the ten fastest in the world.

These trains all share tracks that often are overcrowded. Although the federally funded Northeast Corridor Improvement Project in the early 1980s greatly modernized the capital facilities of the NEC, very little was spent between 1990 and 2002, other than funds used to electrify the route north of New Haven. That changed starting in 2003, with a new emphasis placed on bringing Amtrak’s equipment and infrastructure closer to a state of good repair. Amtrak began the process of ramping up a significant capital program and has made substantial progress in addressing the backlog of capital needs throughout its system.

Long Distance Trains

A National Network

The national network of long distance trains ties the nation together, reduces the costs attributable to other Amtrak routes due to sharing of facilities and services, and serves as a foundation for the growth of shorter distance high-speed and conventional intercity corridor trains.

A Vital Transportation Mode

Long distance trains provide a vital transportation service for those unable to fly or drive, and for many senior citizens (who account for 38 percent of adult passengers) and disabled persons. Amtrak in fiscal year 2010 rode long distance trains. They are often the only transportation mode still operating during severe winter weather conditions that ground planes and close highways. Long distance trains also play an important role in emergency situations: they accommodated thousands of stranded airline passengers after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Corridor & State Trains

Amtrak’s corridor services operate over a 6,000-mile route system and serve 23 states, primarily in the Northeast, Midwest and along the Pacific Coast. In FY 2011, 20 of the 27 state-supported corridor services set annual ridership records.

Over 500,000 annual riders

• Cascades—Vancouver-Seattle-Portland- Eugene
• Downeaster—Boston-Portland, ME
• Hiawathas—Chicago-Milwaukee
• Lincoln Service—Chicago-St. Louis
• Newport News Service—Washington- Newport News
• Wolverines—Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac

Over 1 million annual riders

• Capitols—San Jose-Oakland- Sacramento-Auburn
• Empire Service—New York-Albany- Buffalo-Toronto
• Keystones—New York-Philadelphia- Harrisburg
• Pacific Surfliner—San Diego-Los Angeles-San Luis Obispo
• San Joaquin—Oakland-Fresno- Bakersfield

• 31/12 Improved experience at new station and enhancements at NY Penn Station
• 22/09 Amtrak launches new reduced multi-ride fares in Northeast region
• 29/12 Amtrak Selects Penn Station Partners to Assist in the Development of Baltimore's (US) Penn Station
• 17/11 Amtrak continues next phase of New York Penn Station Infrastructure Renewal work
• 30/10 Enhancements Planned for New York’s Penn Station
• 05/09 Amtrak prepares diesel fleet for Positive Train Control
• 29/08 New locomotives serving Amtrak customers on state-sponsored trains in the Midwest
• 24/08 Amtrak goes to industry for a Master Developer Partnership for Philadelphia 30th Street Station
• 16/08 Amtrak advances work to improve New York Penn Station passenger concourse
• 02/08 Amtrak and Lyft announce rideshare partnership
• 21/07 Amtrak to host Industry Day for Philadelphia 30th Street Station Master Developer partnership
• 04/07 Work underway to improve service reliability at critical transportation hub
• 28/06 Amtrak names transportation veteran Richard Anderson President and CEO
• 15/06 Amtrak to build $28 million locomotive service facility in Seattle
• 10/05 Amtrak recognized as a top employer
• 16/02 Amtrak CEO Wick Moorman calls for new era of infrastructure investment
• 16/01 30th Street Station District Plan wins prestigious national award
• 17/11 Three teams selected after strong response to Request for Qualifications
• 31/10 Amtrak achieves first-ever accreditation from emergency management program leaders
• 17/10 Secretary Foxx, Sens. Schumer, Gillibrand, Menendez & Booker, Chairman Coscia announce major developments for urgently-needed gateway program
• 12/10 New passenger information displays improve customer experience at Penn Station New York
• 07/10 Amtrak business transformation earns industry honor
• 27/09 Amtrak investment package to advance Washington Union Station Concourse modernization
• 26/08 AMTRAK “Winter Park Express” returns
• 11/08 AMTRAK kicks-off solicitation for Baltimore Penn Station Master Developer Partnership
• 12/07 Amtrak and partners announce design team for Chicago Union Station
• 20/06 Completion of Philadelphia 30th Street Station district plan highlighted by action on near term improvements
• 02/05 Amtrak now offers Bike Service on the Vermonter
• 04/02 Amtrak expands pets program across the country
• 01/02 Amtrak and Southern Rail Commission to host an Inspection Train across Gulf Coast
• 18/01 Advanced-Technology Trains power sustainability efforts at Amtrak
• 02/12 Amtrak ridership and ticket revenue steady in fiscal year 2015
• 26/10 Amtrak: It’s time to build
• 20/10 Free WI-FI now available on Auto Train
• 19/10 Amtrak announces comprehensive development & improvement program for Chicago Union Station
• 15/10 Amtrak secures $275 Million of insurance protection for catastrophic incidents
• 08/10 Amtrak welcomes pets aboard select trains traveling in Northeast
• 07/10 Amtrak improves accessibility at auto train stations
• 26/05 Amtrak to begin installation of inward-facing cameras in locomotives