Will Amtrak go electric?

Amtrak offers several thruway bus services around the nation, and will likely be replacing more in the future with electric options, as, according to the company, it has pledged to become “net zero by 2045.” That pledge will be fulfilled by first increasing its current operation's energy efficiency, then by adding ...



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Over the next 15 years, Amtrak envisions connecting over 160 communities across the United States by building new or improved rail corridors across more than 25 states. This corridor expansion will create more than 500,000 new jobs.

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Throughout Amtrak's history, the company has never turned a profitable year, but seemed to be demonstrating greater economic viability before the COVID-19 pandemic.

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For as long as there have been railroads, locomotive changes have been essential to the officials of the railroads, so that a locomotive could be exchanged for the rest of the trip to the next locomotive changing facility or the destination of the train.

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It was supposed to become self-supporting after a transition period, but it has never earned a profit and it consumed more than $50 billion in federal subsidies over five decades to 2020. In fiscal year 2021, Amtrak had revenues of $2.1 billion, expenses of $4.1 billion, and a loss of $2.0 billion.

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In the coming years, Amtrak will invest over $50 billion into modern trains, enhanced stations and facilities, new tunnels and bridges, and other critical infrastructure upgrades. These generational investments mean we're no longer only a passenger rail operator.

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While not nearly as expensive, taking an Amtrak train across the US is also largely the domain of rail enthusiasts as it takes multiple days and costs significantly more than flying. In countries like Japan, South Korea and much of Europe, the opposite is true as the train is simply a way to travel larger distances.

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Their speed, however, will be limited by the complexities of the 457-mile route, which is old, curvy and carries a mix of freight, commuter and intercity trains. Most Amtrak trains travel between 110 mph to 145 mph in the corridor, depending on the track and proximity to stations.

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Amtrak is a federally chartered corporation, with the federal government as majority stockholder. The Amtrak Board of Directors is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Amtrak is operated as a for-profit company, rather than a public authority.

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While the US was a passenger train pioneer in the 19th century, after WWII, railways began to decline. The auto industry was booming, and Americans bought cars and houses in suburbs without rail connections. Highways (as well as aviation) became the focus of infrastructure spending, at the expense of rail.

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The infrastructure that was transferred to Amtrak's management was also aging rapidly and required repairs. However, perhaps the biggest issue of all was that under the Rail Passenger Service Act, Amtrak did not gain ownership of the majority of the railroad tracks that their trains ran on.

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Amtrak operates a fleet of passenger train rolling stock consisting of predominantly custom-built equipment. The active fleet includes some 240 diesel locomotives, 66 electric locomotives, 1,408 passenger cars and 20 Acela Express high-speed trainsets.

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On average, Amtrak travel is 34 percent more energy efficient per passenger than air travel, according to the US Department of Energy.

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These new bus companies have doubled their trips since 2010 and now serve nearly every major U.S. city. Trains are the next best choice, particularly the Amtrak. Though service is notoriously slow, the Amtrak gets 56 mpg per passenger.

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