Passenger in 2025: Patronage jumps despite challenges

Amtrak intercity trains carried more travelers at higher prices in 2025 than in previous years, but the company managed to set those records with a depleted, aging passenger car fleet, accompanied by numerous mechanical failures that caused lengthy delays and train cancellations.

Here’s a review of key passenger news. Some topics will be examined in more depth as part of Trains‘ list of the year’s Top 5 stories.

Ridership and revenue up

For the 12 months ending Sept. 30, Amtrak boarded almost 34.5 million passengers, a 5% increase from 2024. The fact that ticket revenue jumped 11% reflects a yield-management pricing strategy, in which fares are raised as available capacity for coach seats and sleeping car accommodations diminishes through purchases. But it is also a testament to continued strong demand for passenger rail across Amtrak’s three operating segments.

More Northeast Regional frequencies fueled systemwide growth, while scheduled Acela departures were reduced on the Boston-Washington corridor as more of the 20 original 25-year-old trainsets were withdrawn. Help began to arrive as their long-delayed replacements debuted.

Horizon fallout

However, Amtrak’s ability to satisfy demand nationwide took a big hit the last week in March when the entire Horizon passenger car fleet was withdrawn from service. “We discovered corrosion in several Horizon railcars and, while working with the manufacturer, decided to remove the equipment from service after learning of additional areas of concern from intensive inspections of multiple cars,” Amtrak said then. The 61 coaches and nine café/business class cars still active from the 1990 Bombardier order had been the mainstay of the Pacific Northwest’s Cascades, Maine’s Downeasters, and the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul Borealis and Hiawatha corridor services.

Trains on those routes were temporarily cancelled. Bus substitutions prevailed while Amtrak scrambled to partially fill the void with Amfleet replacements made available by reducing consists of Northeast Corridor trains. Regional routes faced numerous sellouts during high-demand periods throughout the year, and NEC pricing reached new highs by Thanksgiving. Amtrak president Roger Harris did say at the company’s public board meeting in December that work underway at an Alstom facility in upstate New York would return some Horizons to active duty in 2026.

Capacity and maintenance challenges

Meanwhile, Superliners were tapped for the Borealis following the end of Colorado’s seasonal Winter Park Express, and refurbished Sightseer lounges returned to the Texas Eagle. The Eagle also gained a through coach and sleeping car on days when it connected with the Sunset Limited. Elsewhere, other Superliner-equipped long-distance trains began receiving cars that had been sidelined by management’s decision to pause overhauls in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited, and Empire Builder coach capacity remained below 2019 levels.

Without sufficient standby rolling stock, a theme throughout 2025 continued to be late departures and mechanical failures en route, often soon after trains left their originating stations. Builder and Southwest Chief departures were cancelled throughout the year when equipment from severely delayed inbound trains was unavailable to cover the next assignment.

There were also numerous instances of en-route equipment failures stranding passengers, particularly involving Siemens ALC42 long-distance and SC44 regional Charger locomotives. Head-end power electrical short circuits, both within and between cars, also became an issue toward the end of the year.

Government intervention

Other disruptions and delays occurred on the Northeast Corridor, exacerbated by work that closed one of four East River Tunnels beginning in April. Elimination of several Empire Service round trips and higher fares on remaining trains prompted New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to get a commitment from Amtrak to cap New York-Albany/Rensselaer fares at $99, restore frequencies, and allow one Metro-North round trip to the state capital from New York’s Grand Central Terminal in 2026.

Also on the political front, in March Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner resigned under Trump administration pressure. The administration later shifted Penn Station renovation responsibilities from New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority to the Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak; former New York City Transit “Train Daddy” Andy Byford was designated to lead Amtrak’s involvement. He had previously been exploring resuscitation of the Dallas-Houston Texas Central high-speed project until Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shut that effort down.

The administration also said it was rescinding a previously awarded $4 billion federal grant to the California High Speed Rail Authority, although that decision is currently tied up in the courts. The authority had announced at a January board meeting that it would be selecting a track contractor and a trainset manufacturer in 2025, but by December only a request for proposals for track construction had been issued.

Starts, saves, and adjustments

Brightline West also sought to begin constructing its Las Vegas, Nev., to Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., high speed route. At year’s end, though, site preparation for a Las Vegas station was the only evidence of construction along the I-15 right-of-way since Trains had followed the route in January. In Florida, financing headwinds, coupled with the arrival of more coaches, prompted a significant restructuring of Brightline schedules and train lengths. The changs attempted to lure back South Florida commuters with increased frequencies, while offering more premium seating for long-distance riders.

Noteworthy among Amtrak’s state-supported services: The North Central Texas Council of Governments stepped in to fund a year’s worth of operating support for the Oklahoma City-Fort Worth Heartland Flyer after the Texas legislature balked at providing its share. And after more than a decade of effort by the Southern Rail Commission, Mardi Gras Service began with two daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala.

— To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.

Previous Trains.com coverage:

Amtrak sets ridership record in 2025 as capacity constraints continue: Analysis, Nov. 16, 2025

Amtrak sidelines Horizon car fleet, leading to widespread cancellations, March 26

Capacity crunch the main topic at Amtrak public board meeting: Analysis, Dec. 4

Texas Eagle lounge car set to return; other long-distance trains to gain capacity, Feb. 25

Storm cancellations, maintenance failures continue to plague Amtrak: Analysis, Jan. 12

Amtrak hit by simultaneous Northeast Corridor stoppages, March 1

Four Amtrak Cascades cancelled today; systemwide mechanical issues continue, Aug. 3

Amtrak mechanical issues hobble departing Chicago trains, Dec. 9

Amtrak CEO Gardner resigns, March 19

Trump to axe California high-speed rail funding, May 7

California high speed rail targets spring for trainset decision; ‘committed and aggressive’ on continuing construction, Jan. 24

California high speed project request proposals for track construction, Nov. 28

Following the route of Brightline West, Feb. 4

Brightline West construction should start within two months, Feb. 10

Brightline remarkets $985 million of debt at higher coupon rate, Aug. 13

Brightline revamps schedules, pricing, and train length, Sept. 30

Local Texas group to fund Heartland Flyer for a year, July 10