Amtrak’s rise in ridership in recent years is an American success story. But will the incoming Trump presidency, and a Republican-dominated House and Senate, ruin the progress that’s been made?
Approximately 32.8 million people traveled on Amtrak during fiscal year 2024, the most in its 53-year history and 15% higher than last year, the national rail agency announced last week. Ticket revenue hit another record: $2.5 billion. And among the service improvements Amtrak touted was an increase in round-trip service between Chicago and St. Paul, Minnesota.
There’s no mystery why this uptick is happening. Traffic jams, road accidents, not to mention the sheer expense, have made traveling long distances by car a joyless experience. And flying often brings its own troubles, from hefty baggage fees to cramped seating to long security lines, especially in major airports like Chicago’s.
Rail can be an efficient, sustainable and more affordable way to travel, as anyone who’s caught a cross-country train in Europe or Asia can attest.
But Amtrak’s success will almost certainly need protection under the incoming Trump administration, as past experience shows. During his first term as president, Donald Trump proposed cutting — more like gutting — federal grants to Amtrak, from $1.2 billion a year to $538 million. Fortunately, Congress rejected that proposal.
And last year, House Republicans proposed slashing Amtrak’s budget by 64%, but the Democratic-controlled Senate rightly kept adequate funding in place.
Things might well be different next year after Trump is sworn in and with Republican majorities in the House —albeit by the narrowest of margins — and Senate.
Union Station improvements in jeopardy?
Amtrak and the federal government have upped their game in recent years, particularly under the Biden administration. Nationally, the agency is pouring $4.5 billion — the most in its history — into infrastructure improvements and new rail cars.
Major improvements at and around Union Station are under way, but Amtrak doesn’t yet have most of the $1 billion it needs to complete the multiyear Chicago Infrastructure Improvement Program.
One big ticket, but not yet funded, project is to improve the elevated former St. Charles Air Line, an east-west rail link located at 16th Street, so that Amtrak trains can turn directly north and head straight to Union Station. Right now, those trains perform a time-consuming two-step that involves first traveling south as far as Chinatown, then slowly backing northward into Union Station.
More than 3 million Amtrak riders on 16 different lines travel through Union Station annually. Another 30 million Metra riders use the station. Amtrak’s progress should be built upon, not dismantled. But without a rail fan as federal transportation secretary or in the White House, the future of these and other projects seems murky.
Trump’s pick for transportation secretary is former Wisconsin congressman and Fox Business host Sean Duffy. The National Rail Passengers Association said Duffy voted against each of the 14 major Amtrak funding bills that came before him in Congress.
“Duffy’s voting record raises serious red flags that require answers,” the association said.
Meanwhile, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner tried to sound a note of optimism, saying the agency “is excited to work with Transportation Secretary designee Sean Duffy as more Americans choose to travel on Amtrak trains than ever before.”
Durbin’s future could be key
GOP federal lawmakers and presidents alike have long sought to starve government-supported Amtrak — while supporting the myriad tax breaks and subsidies that support the highway and auto industries.
Luckily, other elected officials on Capitol Hill have kept Amtrak alive and contributed to it flourishing now.
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., has been one such fighter. But his continued presence in the Senate is unknown: The veteran lawmaker, 80, plans to announce next year whether he’ll run for reelection in 2026.
Amtrak has been flourishing under President Joe Biden, whose administration has also invested in public transit, the conversion of public bus fleets to electric vehicles, and high-speed rail. It will take a fight for Amtrak to continue flourishing under a Trump administration.
That means come January, transportation advocates and elected officials at all levels across the country — and particularly Chicago — must put more pressure on Washington to make sure Trump’s administration doesn’t send Amtrak’s renaissance off the rails.
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