Summary: Amtrak is at a crossroads. As Congress considers Amtrak's reauthorization, it has an opportunity to improve the balance between Amtrak's funding and its mission. High-speed rail service in the Northeast Corridor could provide significant revenue increases, but will require substantial capital from the federal government. Legislation could give Amtrak more cost-cutting flexibility, but labor protection and tort laws apply to Amtrak as well as other railroads. Changing these laws as they apply to Amtrak needs to be considered within this larger context. Although Amtrak's efforts to boost revenues and cut costs could reduce the need for federal help, continued support will be necessary if Amtrak is to continue to run an extensive national network of intercity passenger trains. If Congress decides to downsize Amtrak, a detailed, route-by-route analysis of the impacts of service terminations on other transportation modes, fuel consumption, and the environment would be helpful in making termination decisions.
