Amtrak, the U.S. national passenger rail service, has historically operated at a loss and requires significant federal subsidies to maintain its nationwide network. In fiscal year 2024, Amtrak reported a net loss of approximately $1.8 billion. This figure includes an operating loss of about $635 million specifically from its Long-Distance routes, which are legally required to operate despite being less profitable than the high-density Northeast Corridor (NEC). While the NEC (Boston to Washington, D.C.) often generates an operating profit, those funds are typically reinvested into the massive "state-of-good-repair" backlog and infrastructure projects like the Gateway Tunnel. In 2026, Amtrak's financial health is bolstered by the $22 billion in direct funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, but the "loss" remains a structural part of its mandate to provide public transportation to rural communities. Critics often focus on these annual losses, while supporters argue that Amtrak provides a vital public service and economic benefit that outweighs the direct fiscal deficit.