“Amtrak has never made a profit in its 25 years,” wrote in a reader armed with a few interesting stats. “Since 1972, Amtrak has received more than $13 billion of federal subsidies and is demanding a half cent of the federal gasoline tax so it can permanently be on the federal dole.
“Presently, the average taxpayer already subsidizes $100 per Amtrak rider, or 40% of the total per passenger cost. Even this figure doesn't adequately express how hugely inefficient some long-distance routes are today. For example, the average subsidy to a New York-Los Angeles rider exceeds $1,000. The estimated round-trip subsidy per passenger for a Denver-Chicago trip is $650. It would be cheaper for taxpayers to purchase discount round-trip airfare for all these Amtrak riders.
“Amtrak's typical riders are not low-income Americans. The poor are less likely to travel by Amtrak than by most other travel options. Only 13% of Amtrak passengers have incomes below $20,000. The average Amtrak rider has a higher household income than the average taxpayer. In fact, the clientele for Amtrak Metroliner service between Washington and New York consists largely of Wall Street traders, K Street lobbyists and other affluent business travelers. These folks aren't poor.”
Amtrak recently announced it’d be offering a $100-in-free-booze incentive for passengers traveling on sleeper trains, too.
“Presently, the average taxpayer already subsidizes $100 per Amtrak rider, or 40% of the total per passenger cost. Even this figure doesn't adequately express how hugely inefficient some long-distance routes are today. For example, the average subsidy to a New York-Los Angeles rider exceeds $1,000. The estimated round-trip subsidy per passenger for a Denver-Chicago trip is $650. It would be cheaper for taxpayers to purchase discount round-trip airfare for all these Amtrak riders.
“Amtrak's typical riders are not low-income Americans. The poor are less likely to travel by Amtrak than by most other travel options. Only 13% of Amtrak passengers have incomes below $20,000. The average Amtrak rider has a higher household income than the average taxpayer. In fact, the clientele for Amtrak Metroliner service between Washington and New York consists largely of Wall Street traders, K Street lobbyists and other affluent business travelers. These folks aren't poor.”
Amtrak recently announced it’d be offering a $100-in-free-booze incentive for passengers traveling on sleeper trains, too.
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