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 [email protected]
www.amtrak.comhttp://www.greatamericanstations.com
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