Americans take to the rails in increasing numbers

Americans tend to drive, or fly to their destinations, but railway journeys are growing in popularity, Travel Weekly reported.

Amtrak enjoyed recorded record-high ride numbers and revenue during the 2025 fiscal year, particularly on its long-distance routes, which are attractive to holidaymakers.

The 2025 numbers showed bottom-line improvement and record capital expenditures, indicating that the quasi-public rail line has thus far transitioned smoothly from the Biden administration, which strongly supported passenger rail, to the Trump administration, which was expected to be less enthusiastic.

For the fiscal year that ended in September, Amtrak reported 34.5 million customer trips, up 5.1% from the previous year. Operating revenue was $3.9 billion, up 9.1%.

Both figures were record highs. Amtrak still had an operating loss of $598.4 million, but that was an improvement from a $705.2 million loss in 2024.

On long-distance lines, which Amtrak defines as its 14 services that cover more than 750 miles, ridership was up 4.2% year over year and ticket revenue was up 9.7%.

Solid gains came on the Chicago-San Francisco line, on which ridership increased 14.8%, while numbers increased 18.9% on the Los Angeles-New Orleans line, 14.3% on the Chicago-San Antonio route and 12.6% on the Chicago-Los Angeles route. Added capacity was a major reason for those gains.

The company also made significant network changes on routes that are attractive to vacationers.

In August, Amtrak re-introduced a service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said revenue on long-distance routes could be higher, if not for fleet-size limitations. New long-distance cars are not expected before the end of the decade.

Amtrak was a major beneficiary of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act under President Joe Biden, which included $22 billion in guaranteed funding.

Founded in 1971, Amtrak currently operates intercity rail services in every contiguous US state except for Wyoming and South Dakota, as well as in three Canadian provinces.