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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

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Amtrak

Amtrak was formed in 1970 to be the Nation's sole provider of intercity passenger rail service. It operates in 46 states and owns and manages the Northeast Corridor rail infrastructure. Though it requires Federal subsidies, Amtrak is a for-profit corporation and makes management decisions independently of the government.

Rating

What This Rating Means

NOT PERFORMING
Ineffective

Programs receiving this rating are not using your tax dollars effectively. Ineffective programs have been unable to achieve results due to a lack of clarity regarding the program's purpose or goals, poor management, or some other significant weakness.
  • Amtrak's purpose is ambiguous, and the program has been ineffectively managed due to this lack of clarity. Congress has not specified whether Amtrak should: 1) provide alternative transportation nationwide at any cost, 2) maximize ridership, or 3) take a business-based approach focused on minimizing losses.
  • Amtrak performs poorly both financially and operationally. Amtrak's annual operating losses and debt burden continue to grow, and it faces a multi-billion dollar infrastructure backlog. As its infrastructure ages, the on-time performance and reliability of its trains are deteriorating. For example, the system-wide on-time arrival rate fell from 79 percent in 1999 to 70 percent in 2005.
  • Amtrak's flawed design contributes to its poor performance. Multiple independent studies have cited problems with the current model, including a lack of competition, little involvement by states in developing local services, and no accountability to taxpayers or corporate stakeholders.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Working with the board of directors and the Federal Railroad Administration to increase Amtrak's accountability for its financial and operational performance.
  • Evaluating capital projects and proposed route changes to assess the return on investment as well as any operating impacts.
  • Working with Congress to develop legislation that better articulates the Federal policy on intercity passenger rail, including Amtrak's mission and goals.

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