Amtrak

Amtrak, officially the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, is the United States' primary operator of intercity passenger rail. It was created by the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 and began operations on May 1, 1971, when most private railroads ended their passenger services and transferred operations to a single national carrier. Amtrak is a federally chartered, not-for-profit corporation owned by the federal government, relying on fare revenue supplemented by federal subsidies and, for many services, state support.

Its network covers a large portion of the United States, with the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., being the busiest and hosting the Acela Express high-speed service. In addition to Acela, Amtrak operates the Northeast Regional and numerous long-distance routes that extend to the Midwest, West, and South. Some routes are financed through state partnerships and designated as state-supported corridors. Cross-border services operate with Canadian partners on routes such as the Adirondack (New York City to Montreal) and the Maple Leaf (New York City to Toronto), the latter operated in conjunction with VIA Rail Canada for the Canadian portion.

Rolling stock includes Amtrak’s Acela high-speed trainsets on the Northeast Corridor and a mix of passenger cars and locomotives used on regional and long-distance trains, such as Amfleet, Viewliner, and Superliner equipment. Long-distance trains typically offer sleeping and dining services in addition to daytime coaches.

Amtrak's operations are overseen by a board of directors and regional management. It receives federal appropriations for capital projects, maintenance, and service expansion, with additional support from state governments and private partnerships. The organization aims to improve reliability, expand capacity, and modernize equipment, while navigating ongoing debates over funding, service coverage, and expansion.