Amtrak is the biggest passenger train service in the United States, providing daily intercity trains to 800 locations in the continental United States and a few Canadian towns. Known officially as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak is a quasi-public company that runs as a for-profit enterprise despite receiving both state and federal subsidies.

The Rail Passenger Service Act, approved by the US Congress in 1970 in an attempt to revive the collapsing intercity passenger rail sector, led to the formation of Amtrak in 1971. On May 1, 1971, the first train journey under the Amtrak name was made. In the years after its founding, the nascent organization found it difficult to gain traction, but Amtrak persisted in growing as some of the last private railroads went out of business.

In order to provide better service to its customers, Amtrak invested in updating its fleet and kept growing its network during the 1980s and 1990s. The most significant improvement in service, however, did not occur until the early 21st century with the launch of Amtrak’s high-speed Acela service, which offered much anticipated express trains between Boston and Washington, D.C. via the Northeast Corridor. As of right now, Amtrak operates 34485 train journeys every day on an average across 51524 lines in North America.

There are now over 40 distinct regional train services available on Amtrak’s network. The most well-known ones include the Coast Starlight, the Downeaster, the Pacific Surfliner, and the Northeast Regional. Amtrak offers a bus service known as Thruway, which is offered nationwide as an extension of its network to locations where rail service is not accessible, in addition to its train lines.

Excellent onboard experiences are a major factor in Amtrak’s continued popularity as a means of intercity transportation. All Amtrak trains are furnished with cozy seats with plenty of legroom and centrally located tables for four people, allowing you to face and converse with your fellow passengers. Every car also features free WiFi, recently cleaned restrooms, and power outlets at every seat. Additionally, every Amtrak train features snack shops where you may buy food or drinks to eat while travelling; some even have a whole dining car included.