Understanding Intercity Passenger, Commuter & Freight Railroads – Association of American Railroads

Amtrak operates passenger trains across a national system consisting of three service lines: Northeast Corridor (NEC), Long-Distance and State-Supported. In fiscal year (FY)19, 32.5 million customers traveled on Amtrak.

• NEC Services: The NEC stretches 457 miles from Washington, D.C., to Boston, MA, of which Amtrak owns 363 miles. This is the most heavily traveled portion of the intercity passenger rail system. Amtrak operates the Northeast Regional, Acela service, and portions of other long-distance and state-supported routes on the NEC. The NEC also hosts extensive commuter rail operations and freight rail service. Ridership reached 12.5 million in FY19, an increase of 3.3% from FY18.
• Long-Distance Routes: Amtrak currently operates 15 long-distance routes through 39 states. These are routes of more than 750 miles between endpoints. Nearly 4.5 million riders took a long-distance train in FY19.
• State-Supported Routes: Amtrak operates 28 state-supported routes on behalf of 17 states that are funded in partnership with 20 entities, including state departments of transportation and authorities specifically chartered to administer individual corridors. In FY19, state-supported routes carried 15.4 million riders, which was 47% of Amtrak’s total ridership. These routes are under 750 miles in length between endpoints.

Of the more than 21,000 miles on which it operates, Amtrak owns approximately 655 miles, primarily in the Northeast and Michigan. Some of the remaining miles are owned by states or regional transportation authorities, but the vast majority are owned by freight railroads. 70% of the train-miles operated by Amtrak are on tracks owned by these host railroads.

Amtrak’s relationship with host railroads is governed by federal statute and by negotiated bilateral operating agreements. These operating agreements can include key terms such as train schedules, standard of performance and related incentives and penalties. Amtrak and host freight railroads each have designated staff that work together to manage the operations on these lines.