A federal panel declared today that Amtrak will not meet a congressional deadline for self-sufficiency, which forces the railway to draw up plans for its own liquidation. The Amtrak Reform Council 6-5 vote does not mean Amtrak will close. Congress will review Amtrak's liquidation plan and create a proposal for a restructured national passenger rail system. Congress will make the final decision on the future of Amtrak and is considering what role the railway will have in U.S. high-speed rail development. The Amtrak Reform Council was created by Congress in 1997 to review Amtrak's finances and to judge whether the national passenger service was financially viable. Amtrak has made progress toward self-sufficiency but still won't meet the Dec.2, 2002, deadline, said the council.
Amtrak told to plan liquidation
Congress will make the final decision on Amtrak's future and is considering what role the railway will play in U.S. high-speed rail development .
More Rail
Transportation Secretary Duffy, Amtrak Announce Progress on New York Penn Station Project
As part of the contract, the AECOM-LiRo NYPennT Joint Venture will work with Amtrak and the selected Master Developer to completely transform Penn Station, improving safety and operational efficiency, making the system more family-friendly, accommodating increased train and passenger capacity, and delivering a world-class experience to its growing passenger base, according to Amtrak officials.
Read More →
ZeroEyes Launches ZeroLink to Expand AI Gun Detection Beyond Traditional Networks
New edge-based solution enables real-time threat detection and situational awareness in remote, mobile, and infrastructure-limited environments.
Read More →
Chicago Transit Authority Sues USDOT Over Paused Funding for Red Line Extension, Modernization Projects
The Chicago agency seeks restoration of nearly $2 billion in federal funding, warning halted projects could impact transit access and economic growth.
Read More →
Alstom Awarded 5-Year Extension for GO Transit, UP Express Services
Company officials said that this latest contract extension with Metrolinx consolidates the company’s position as the leading private provider of Operations and maintenance services in North America.
Read More →
New York MTA Seeks Bids for 2,390 Subway Cars in Record-Breaking Order
The new cars, model R262, will be funded by the MTA’s 2025-29 Capital Plan, which received a historic $68 billion in funding from Governor Hochul and the State Legislature in the FY26 Enacted State Budget.
Read More →
Amtrak Announces Community Grants for Projects Near Baltimore’s New Frederick Douglass Tunnel
Amtrak will open grant applications March 23 for community projects near the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore as part of a $50 million investment tied to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program.
Read More →
Amtrak Marks Restoration of Two South Carolina Stations
The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.
Read More →
NJ Transit, Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge
The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.
Read More →
Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy
Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.
Read More →
Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
Read More →