Amtrak

American intercity passenger rail operator

Economy & BusinessPolitics & Government
Amtrak
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Overview

What happened

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak, is the national passenger railroad company of the United States.

Date

May 1, 1971

Location

Washington, D.C., United States

Key people

William Graham Claytor Jr.

Outcome

On May 1, 1971, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, later known as Amtrak, was formed to take over the operation of most US passenger rail serv...

Why it matters

This article provides a detailed and nuanced account of the creation of Amtrak, including the historical context and the key players involved, such as President Richard Nixon and Wil...

What was Amtrak?

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak (; reporting marks AMTK, AMTZ), is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in every contiguous U.S. state except for Wyoming and South Dakota as well as in three Canadian provinces. Amtrak is a portmanteau of the words America and track. Founded in 1971 as a quasi-public corporation to operate many U.S. passenger rail routes, Amtrak receives a combination of state and federal subsidies but is managed as a for-profit organization.

Penn Central Railroad's employee publication announcing the inauguration of Amtrak on May 1, 1971. Penn Central Amtrak routes are listed.
Penn Central Railroad's employee publication announcing the inauguration of Amtrak on May 1, 1971. Penn Central Amtrak routes are listed.
Related books
Amtrak Wars cover Amtrak Wars Patrick Tilley · 1991 THE AMTRAK WARS cover THE AMTRAK WARS Patrick Tilley · 1991 California passenger rail system Amtrak · 2001 Background on Amtrak Amtrak · 1978 Amtrak in the heartland cover Amtrak in the heartland Craig Sanders · 2006
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Background and consequences

The company's headquarters is located one block west of Union Station in Washington, D.C. Amtrak is headed by a Board of Directors, two of whom are the secretary of transportation and chief executive officer (CEO) of Amtrak, while the other eight members are nominated to serve a term of five years. Amtrak's network includes over 500 stations along 21,400 miles (34,000 km) of track. It directly owns approximately 623 miles (1,003 km) of this track and operates an additional 132 miles (212 km) of track; the remaining mileage is over rail lines owned by other railroad companies.

An Amtrak EMD SDP40F with the San Francisco Zephyr in 1975. By the mid-1970s, Amtrak equipment was acquiring its own identity.
An Amtrak EMD SDP40F with the San Francisco Zephyr in 1975. By the mid-1970s, Amtrak equipment was acquiring its own identity.
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Why it matters

While most track speeds are limited to 79 mph (127 km/h) or less, several lines have been upgraded to support top speeds of 110 mph (180 km/h), and parts of the Northeast Corridor support top speeds of 160 mph (260 km/h). In fiscal year 2025, Amtrak served 34.5 million passengers and had $2.7 billion in adjusted ticket revenue, with more than 22,100 employees. Nearly 87,000 passengers ride more than 300 Amtrak trains daily. Nearly two-thirds of passengers come from the 10 largest metropolitan areas and 83% of passengers travel on routes shorter than 400 miles (645 km).

Related on thisDay

Amtrak — May 1, 1971

40 million passengers relied on 20 private railroads until Washington D.C. saw Amtrak's birth on May 1, 1971, changing US transportation forever.

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Amtrak — May 1, 1971Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Amtrak.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/amtrak/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Amtrak. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/amtrak/

Chicago

“Amtrak.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/amtrak/.

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