AMTRAK'S STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN: PROGRESS TO DATE

Since May 1971, when Amtrak took over responsibility for operating the nation's intercity passenger trains, the federal government has provided the corporation with over $18 billion. Despite this federal support, by 1994 Amtrak's financial and operating condition had seriously declined. At the same time, federal budget considerations have been making it increasingly difficult for the Congress to continue to provide its historic level of support. In response to this financial crisis, in 1995 Amtrak developed a Strategic Business Plan to increase revenues and cut expenses, with the goal of eliminating its need for a federal operating subsidy by fiscal year 2002. The General Accounting Office (GAO) was requested to assist the Congress in determining the future of federal support for Amtrak. This report (1) describes the specific actions Amtrak plans to take and the expected results from those actions; (2) reviews Amtrak's success to date in achieving financial improvements and its progress toward realizing the longer-term goal of operating self-sufficiency; and (3) describes Amtrak's efforts in monitoring the Plan's implementation.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/1404552
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/13229
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report to Congressional Recipients.
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. General Accounting Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Publication Date: 1996-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 16 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Budgeting; Businesses; Federal aid; Federal government; Finance; Financing; Implementation; Intercity transportation; Monitoring; Passenger trains; Railroad transportation; Strategic planning; Transportation planning
• Identifier Terms: Amtrak
• Uncontrolled Terms: Financial management; Intercity
• Old TRIS Terms: Federal budgets
• Subject Areas: Finance; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00727039
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GAO/RCED-96-187
• Files: NTL, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 3 1996 12:00AM