By Aaron Short, Streetsblog USA; November 11, 2019
Amtrak could become profitable as soon as next year as it beefs up short-distance service across the country as more Americans explore cost-efficient, less-polluting alternatives to driving and flying between cities.
The railroad company carried a record 32.5 million customers in the fiscal year that ended in September, a 2.5-percent increase from the previous year, Amtrak officials said on Friday. Its rise in rail ridership mirrors the growth in commuter rail, which has added passengers in suburban areas nationally this year compared with last year.