Amtrak is a government-owned passenger rail corporation in the US, established in 1971 to retain domestic rail travel. It is the only rail company that offers extensive national service in the US, and has struggled with chronic underfunding. However, it is one of the best transportation options in terms of efficiency and safety, and has seen a recent increase in ridership due to rising fuel costs and economic pressures.
Amtrak is a government-owned passenger rail corporation in the United States. It was established in 1971 with the goal of retaining domestic rail travel as a transportation option, and while Amtrak is no longer required to operate nationwide, it has retained many of the original routes since its early days of operation. Tickets are available directly through the company, at Amtrak stations, and through travel agents.
Amtrak is the only rail company that offers extensive national service in the United States. In many other countries, various train companies compete for passenger travel, often handling cargo as well. This diversity of choice and competition promotes constant refinements, from the development of more efficient trains to luxury service.
Historically, the United States relied heavily on rail transportation for the travel and shipping of goods. Most passengers and freight used trains in the mid-20th century, when trucking began to be used as freight, and people began to drive cars in large numbers. In the late 1960s, some people began to fear that passenger rail travel would disappear altogether, and in response, the government established Amtrak.
As a government-owned corporation, the corporation’s board of directors is appointed by the President and is subject to confirmation in the Senate. The government provides funds to supplement passenger revenue, and the corporation has struggled since its inception with chronic underfunding. Initially, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, as Amtrak is formally known, used rolling stock and equipment contributed by participating railroads, with companies joining the railroad so they could turn passenger operations over to Amtrak and focus on freight service. .
In terms of efficiency and safety, Amtrak is one of the best transportation options in the United States. It is greener than planes, buses or personal cars, and the energy use per passenger is relatively low. Amtrak also has a strong safety record and a decent reliability record, with some routes more reliable and efficient than others.
At the turn of the 21st century, Amtrak began to suffer a massive drop in customers, and some people feared that the days of passenger rail travel might be over. However, rising fuel costs and economic pressures in 2008 led many Americans to turn to Amtrak for transportation, greatly increasing ridership. In response, the government provided additional funds and considered extending some routes to provide additional services, in order to attract more passengers to the system.
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