Amtrak: America’s Railroad

Todd Stennis, Director Government Affairs,

South

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The Amtrak System

• Amtrak operates America’s national intercity passenger rail system:– 305 weekday trains– 21,200 route-miles– 46 States, 3 Canadian provinces, and

Washington, DC• Ridership exceeded 30M for fifth straight

year, NEC services, Southwest Chief and Empire Corridor set ridership records

• Amtrak recovered 93% of its operating costs in FY 2014

• This is a very busy and exciting time• Major challenges:

– Funding – Reauthorization (last reauth in 2008, new one

in works)

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Types of Amtrak services

• Northeast Corridor (NEC) – 457 miles– Washington-New York-Boston– 11.7 million riders in FY 2015

• Long Distance (LD) services– 15 routes– Up to 2,438 miles– 4.48 million riders in FY 2015

• State-supported trains – 29 routes– 19 partner states– Up to 750 miles– 14.68 million riders in FY 2015

Northeast Corridor

Long Distance

State-supported

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Today’s Amtrak System

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Today’s Amtrak system – minus long distance

trains

Half of the states and communities we serve would lose all service – and the rest would lose a lot of travel choices

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If we were an airline, we’d be the fifth largest in the

country

Total of 245M annual domestic passengers

Total of 415M annual domestic passengers

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Amtrak serves more destinations than the

airlines

We serve more than 520 stations; the airlines provide scheduled service at 429 airfields

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Long distance trains provide a vital public service

• Long distance trains account for:– 41% of passenger-miles – 15% of ridership, but 23%

of ticket revenues– 42% of identified

passengers with disabilities who use Amtrak

• Serve about 40% of America’s rural population

• In many places, only remaining scheduled intercity transportation (bus services served 11% fewer Americans in 2011 than 2005)

Intercity Bus Coverage

State Name

% of rural

residents

served, 2005

% of rural

residents

served, 2010

Change (%)

Alabama 92.4% 60.9% -34%

Georgia 92.4% 66.1% -28%

Kansas 71.8% 52.6% -26.7%

Kentucky 70.7% 50.2% -28.9%

Louisiana 91.2% 72.7% -20.3%

Mississippi 93.8% 62.8% -33%

Missouri 80.4% 69.6% -13%

Nevada 85.3% 66.1% -22.5%

New Mexico 84.3% 61.0% -27.6%

North Carolina 95.0% 72.9% -23.3%

North Dakota 50.7% 35.2% -30.1%

Virginia 89.2% 68.0% -23.8%

West Virginia 75.7% 46.2% -38.9%Source: USDOT

The average long distance train is almost as full as an Acela

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Ten annual ridership records in thirteen

years

Ridership has grown by almost 50% since 1998

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Ridership and Revenues are up

• FY 2015 system ridership totaled 30.8M

• Ticket revenues of more than $2.1B

• NEC had a record year49% growth since 1998

Almost 12% growth since 199889.2% growth since1998

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Ticket revenues have risen dramatically since

1998

Revenues have more than doubled

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This has reduced need for Federal subsidies

In real terms, value of 2014 operating grant was less than half of 2004

20042005

20062007

20082009

20102011

20122013

2014$300.00

$400.00

$500.00

$600.00

$700.00

$800.00

$900.00

$1,000.00

Amtrak Operating Funding Level, 2004-Present

Fiscal Year

Mil

lio

ns

of

20

14

do

lla

rs

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$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

$3,500

$4,000

$4,500

In m

illio

ns

of

do

llars

Year

It has allowed us to reduce debt

Amtrak Corporate Debt

Total indebtedness is less than half of the 2002 level

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Problems with on-time performance (OTP) are a

serious challenge

If this challenge goes unaddressed, costs will rise, and revenues will drop

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Federal transportation investment by mode, 1949-

2014

Federal capital investment has been the basis for our improvement – and we’ve accomplished a lot with very little

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Amtrak in Florida

Amtrak in Florida, 2014

Employees 794

Payroll $55.7 million

Passengers 1.08 million

Procurement business $38 million

Routes 3 active

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Potential opportunities

• Currently, two major ones:– FEC operation– Service to New

Orleans (study for Southern Rail Commission ongoing)

• Implementation will require strong support at the state, Federal and local levels

FEC

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Todd StennisDirector,

Government AffairsStenniT@amtrak.com

www.amtrak.comhttp://www.greatamericanstations.com