Amtrak: Difference between revisions

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 132 miles 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}}.

==History==

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>

[[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]]

[[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 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: short-haul service on the Northeast Corridor, state-supported short-haul service outside the Northeast Corridor, and medium- and long-haul service 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 short and medium-haul routes outside of the Northeast Corridor, some of which connect to it or are extensions from 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}}</ref> and [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] in Southern California.

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" />

===Ridership===

[[File:Annual Amtrak Ridership Graph thru FY2012.svg|thumb|right|Annual ridership by fiscal year 1971–2023]]

===Guest Rewards===

===Lines===

Along the NEC and in several other areas, Amtrak owns {{convert|730|mi}} including 17 tunnels consisting of {{convert|29.7|mi|km|sigfig=3}} of track, and 1,186 bridges (including the famous [[Hell Gate Bridge]]) consisting of {{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>

* [[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 were completed in October 2006 that 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>

* [[Post Road Branch]]: {{convert|12.42|mi|km|sigfig=4}}, [[Castleton-on-Hudson, New York|Castleton-on-Hudson]] to [[Rensselaer, New York]]

Amtrak owns New York Penn Station, Philadelphia 30th Street Station, Baltimore Penn Station and Providence Station. It also owns Chicago Union Station, formerly through a wholly owned subsidiary, the [[Chicago Union Station Company]] until absorbed by Amtrak in 2017. Through the [[Washington Terminal Company]], in which it owns a 99.7 percent interest, it owns the rail infrastructure around [[Washington Union Station]]. It holds a 99% interest in 30th Street Limited, a partnership responsible for redeveloping the area in and around 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>

[[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 cars.jpg|thumb|''[[Amtrak Cascades]]'' service with tilting [[Talgo]] trainsets in [[King Street Station|Seattle, Washington]], 2006]]

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.

===Other railway companies===

* [[Auto-Train Corporation]] – Pioneer of car-on-train service

* [[Via Rail]] (Canada) - connects with Amtrak

* [[List of railway companies]]