The name Amtrak is the blending of the words American and Track. The railroad's official name is the National Railroad Passenger Corp. Amtrak began service on May 1, 1971, with a schedule of 184 trains serving 314 destinations. Amtrak serves more than 500 stations in 46 states.

Amtrak, which began its operations on May 1, 1971, is a fascinating blend of history and modern transit. One of its most interesting aspects is that it does not actually own about 97% of the tracks it uses; it primarily runs on tracks owned by "host" freight railroads like BNSF or CSX. A particularly unique service is the Auto Train, the longest passenger train in the world, which allows you to transport your car, motorcycle, or even a small boat while you relax in a passenger car for the trip between Virginia and Florida. Additionally, Amtrak's "Sunset Limited" is the oldest named train route in the United States, dating back to 1894—long before Amtrak itself was formed. The network also employs "Trails & Rails" volunteers from the National Park Service who ride certain routes to provide passengers with educational commentary about the natural and cultural history of the landscape they are passing through.