By David C. Lester, Managing Editor, RT&S Magazine; July 7, 2020
Amtrak is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2021. The celebration may be muted, however, due to the animosity Amtrak faces and, indeed, has faced throughout the 49 years since the agency took over most of the privately operated U.S. passenger train operation on May 1, 1971. Essentially, Amtrak was formed to relieve ailing railroads from the burden of operating unprofitable passenger trains.
Sadly, Amtrak has been funded by annual Congressional appropriations since the beginning. No trust fund like the highways have. Throughout its history, the value of long-distance trains has been questioned. Members of Congress, though, want to make sure their districts have Amtrak service if at all possible. Some say the only real value Amtrak brings is in the Northeast Corridor and through Amtrak California. Amtrak service on its “premier” trains has been great at times, horrible at others. Food quality has gone from very good to barely edible. Efforts to improve the agency by experienced railroaders like W. Graham Claytor and David Gunn have been partly successful, only to be scuttled by the next Amtrak president who takes over.