Amtrak

WASHINGTON – The Clocker departed from Union Station in New York at 12:05 a.m. on May 1, 1971, marking the debut of Amtrak.

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

In Fiscal Year 2006, Amtrak passenger ticket revenue increased to $1.37 billion, the highest annual ticket revenue ever achieved, and, at $132 million over a year earlier, the railroad’s largest year-over-year increase.

Also in Fiscal Year 2006, the railroad also served 24.3 million passengers — nearly 300,000 more than for the same trains in the previous fiscal year.

Each day, approximately 66,000 passengers travel on Amtrak. Amtrak serves 46 states; only Alaska, Hawaii, South Dakota and Wyoming are not served by Amtrak.

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

Amtrak Headlines

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  Amtrak Awards Contracts to Advance Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project

  December 19, 2024
• 

  Amtrak Completes Early Construction Activity for Susquehanna River Bridge Project

  December 18, 2024
• 

  Passenger Rail Set to Return Between Mobile and New Orleans

  December 5, 2024
• 

  Amtrak Sets All-Time Ridership Record in Fiscal 2024

  December 3, 2024
• 

  Amtrak Names Executive Vice President of Strategy and Planning

  November 27, 2024
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  Amtrak, NJ Transit, Murphy Highlight Recent Improvements

  November 20, 2024

Amtrak Facts & Figures

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