Amtrak's board is moving forward with a preliminary framework that would significantly restructure the passenger railroad's corporate organization, building on what the company says has been a period of record ridership, revenue, and capital investment.

The proposal, developed by Amtrak management and approved by the board for further consideration, is intended to modernize the organization's structure while improving accountability, operational efficiency, and customer service. The board is now seeking public feedback as it refines the proposal and implementation strategy.

"Our management team developed this preliminary framework after extensive study and continues to seek input to be sure we get it right," Interim President Byl Herrmann said in a statement. "Our goal is a more accountable, effective, and resilient Amtrak, one that delivers more riders, more revenue, and the best customer service in the transportation industry."

Three Core Business Units

Under the proposed framework, Amtrak would continue to operate as the parent organization while creating three distinct business units focused on key areas of the company's operations:

• A Passenger Services division that would oversee the delivery of safe, reliable rail service while focusing on enhancing the customer experience.
• An Infrastructure Management division that would be responsible for maintaining and improving the railroad's tracks, bridges, tunnels, and stations, while overseeing more than $5 billion in annual infrastructure investments.
• A Fleet Management division that would manage the company's rolling stock, including more than $10 billion in fleet modernization investments currently underway.

Improving Accountability and Decision-Making

According to Amtrak, the new structure is designed to provide greater visibility into operational performance and costs, improve decision-making, and better align authority with responsibility across the organization.

Company officials said the changes are intended to create a more agile and accountable organization capable of supporting continued ridership growth, expanding passenger rail service, and strengthening financial performance.

The restructuring proposal comes as Amtrak continues to build on record ridership and revenue while advancing major capital investments in infrastructure and new equipment.

Amtrak plans to begin developing a detailed organizational design and implementation plan in September. A formal proposal will be presented to the board in December, with the new operating structure proposed to take effect in 2027.