AMTRAK: FOUR YEARS OF PROGRESS

Amtrak, officially The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, is itself unique. It is a corporation but rather than a venture of private capital it is the creation of the United States government. While the corporation does have the right to sell stock to the public in the open market, this right has, to date, been exercised in only the most limited sense. The Corporation is governed by a board of directors, but a majority of this board is public members nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Amtrak was created to be a "for profit" entity but, while this continues as the goal, it will certainly be some years before the profitability can be achieved. In the meanwhile, Amtrak continues to be reliant on government subsidies and assistance in large amounts. Clearly Amtrak is a hybrid of government and the private sector unusual in the United States and elsewhere. In spite of declining ridership, deteriorating equipment and tracks and calculated neglect by management which has characterized the twenty years of American passenger service prior to Amtrak, the turning point has been reached and successfully passed. The first four years have been difficult as Amtrak has often been forced to run merely to stay in place. The next four years will have their problems but they will show real progress to reestablishing inter-city rail passenger service as a viable part of the American transportation complex. The goal of the 8,488 employees at Amtrak is no less than to provide Americans with the best system of inter-city rail passenger travel in the world.

• Corporate Authors:

  International Railway Congress Association

  17-21 rue de Louvrain
  1000 Brussels,   Belgium 
• Authors:
  • Lewis, R
  • Reistrup, P H
• Publication Date: 1975-6

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 445-453
• Serial:
  • RAIL INTERNATIONAL
  • Issue Number: 6

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Intercity travel; Management; Passenger service; Planning; Policy; Subsidies
• Identifier Terms: Amtrak
• Old TRIS Terms: Government policies; Management planning
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00099815
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Rail International
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 18 1975 12:00AM