The History of Amtrak

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak, was created by Congress through the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 and incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1971. It represented the consolidation of 20 private passenger railroads into one national rail network. On May 1, 1971, the first Amtrak train departed New York en route to Philadelphia. In 1975, Amtrak invested in hundreds of bi-level Pullman-Standard Company Superliner cars for its long-distance trains. In 1977, Amtrak and the federal government began work on the Northeast Corridor Improvement Program (NECIP) to modernize the main line’s infrastructure. (Amtrak took part in many other improvement projects over the years.) In 1985, bi-level Superliners were added to several of Amtrak’s western routes; several featured Sightseer lounges with wrap-around viewing windows. In 1986, Amtrak began modifying its Amfleet cars to allow trains to operate in “push-pull” service for increased efficiency and safety. Amtrak.com was launched in 1995 and online ticket booking capabilities were added two years later. During a blizzard in 1996, Amtrak was the only intercity transportation able to maintain service in the Northeast. In 2000, the first Acela Express train was introduced; Amtrak initially offered one daily roundtrip between Washington, D.C. and Boston before adding additional routes and frequencies as more of the high-speed trains were delivered and put into service. In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Amtrak provided transportation into and out of New York City, which was particularly relied upon while planes were grounded. That same year, Amtrak introduced a Quiet Car to nearly every weekday train that ran in the Northeast; due to an overwhelmingly positive response, Amtrak added Quiet Cars to many other routes all around the country, too. In 2007, Amtrak began at-seat cart and beverage service on select Acela Express trains. In 2012, Amtrak helped to pump out flooded tunnels after Hurricane Sandy. That same year, eTicketing was implemented nationally. Today, Amtrak operates intercity passenger rail services in 46 states and the District of Columbia and also serves as a contractor for several commuter rail agencies. Although its value and efficiency are sometimes debated, Amtrak continues to provide daily transportation for many people all across the United States.