Amtrak

WASHINGTON — The Clocker departed from Union Station in New York at 12:05 a.m. on May 1, 1971, bound for Philadelphia, marking the debut of Amtrak and a new era in the country’s railroad history.

Amtrak (formally the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) was created with the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 and consolidated 20 private passenger railroads into one. Under the act, the federal government subsidizes and oversees intercity passenger train operations.

After Congress passed the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976, Amtrak acquired most of the Northeast Corridor on April 1, 1976.

Each day, roughly 66,000 passengers travel on Amtrak, which serves 46 states. It does not serve Alaska, Hawaii, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Aside from the Northeast Corridor and some Southern California and Michigan tracks, most Amtrak trains operate on tracks owned and operated by freight railroads. BNSF is the largest host to Amtrak routes, with 6.3 million train miles.

In 1972, its first full year of operation, Amtrak carried 15.8 million passengers. In fiscal 2024, Amtrak said it set an all-time ridership record, carrying 32.8 million passengers.

Since Amtrak is a quasi-governmental agency, its preferred stock is owned by the federal government, and its board of directors members are appointed by the president, who must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Amtrak By the Numbers

Here are some facts and figures about Amtrak.

• Route Miles: n/a
• Number of Employees: 22,000
• Locomotives: 425 (351 diesel and 74 electric)
• Amtrak Reporting Marks: AMTK, AMTZ

Amtrak’s Active Fleet of Operated Passenger Equipment (Start of Fiscal 2024)

Locomotive Fleet	Ownership	Active Fleet	Average Year Built	Average Unit Age (Years)	Notes
Siemens ALC-42	Amtrak	45	2021	2
GE P42-8 Diesel	Amtrak	168	1998	25
GE P32-8 Diesel	Amtrak	16	1991	32
P32ACDM Dual Mode	Amtrak	18	1996	27
GE P40-8 Diesel	Amtrak	11	1993	30
Siemens ACS-64	Amtrak	68	2015	8
Bombardier/Alstom HHP-8	Amtrak	6	2000	23	In reserve status.

Railcar Fleet	Ownership	Active Fleet	Average Year Built	Average Unit Age (Years)	Notes
Heritage	Amtrak	2	1952	72
Amfleet I	Amtrak	445	1976	47
Amfleet II	Amtrak	135	1982	41
Horizon	Amtrak	56	1989	34
Superliner I	Leased and owned	217	1980	43	As of October 2023, 35 units remain under lease; the remaining 182 Superliners are owned.
Superliner II	Amtrak	163	1995	28
Viewliner I	Amtrak	35	1996	27	Includes prototype diner.
Viewliner II	Amtrak	108	2017	6
NPCU (former F40PH)	Amtrak	13	1977	46	F40PH locomotives built 1977 and rebuilt into NPCUs.
Single Level Cab Control Car	Amtrak	19	1969	54	Includes 4 cab/baggage units (NPCU)(California Service) and 15 ex-Metroliner cab control coaches
Auto Carrier	Amtrak	77	2005	18

Amtrak Presidents

Amtrak Photos

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