Amtrak has struggled since its inception to earn sufficient revenues & operate efficiently. In June 2002, Amtrak's new pres. began major efforts to improve efficiency. However, the financial condition of the company remains precarious, requiring a fed. subsidy of more than $1 billion annually. Capital backlogs are now about $6 billion, with over 60% being attributable to its mainstay Northeast Corridor service. This report reviewed Amtrak's: (1) strategic planning, (2) financial reporting & financial management practices, (3) cost containment strategies, (4) acquisition management, & (5) accountability & oversight. Includes recommendations. Charts & tables.

Discover the story of Amtrak, America's Railroad, 50 years in the making. In 1971, in an effort to rescue essential freight railroads, the US government founded Amtrak. In the post–World War II era, aviation and highway development had become the focus of government policy in America. As rail passenger services declined in number and in quality, they were simultaneously driving many railroads toward bankruptcy. Amtrak was intended to be the solution. In Amtrak, America's Railroad: Transportation's Orphan and Its Struggle for Survival, Geoffrey H. Doughty, Jeffrey T. Darbee, and Eugene E. Harmon explore the fascinating history of this popular institution and tell a tale of a company hindered by its flawed origin and uneven quality of leadership, subjected to political gamesmanship and favoritism, and mired in a perpetual philosophical debate about whether it is a business or a public service. Featuring interviews with former Amtrak presidents, the authors examine the current problems and issues facing Amtrak and their proposed solutions. Created in the absence of a comprehensive national transportation policy, Amtrak manages to survive despite inherent flaws due to the public's persistent loyalty. Amtrak, America's Railroad is essential reading for those who hope to see another fifty years of America's railroad passenger service, whether they be patrons, commuters, legislators, regulators, and anyone interested in railroads and transportation history.