Elon Musk wants to privatize Amtrak

[Delray]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/business ... index.html

“Amtrak is a sad situation. It’s like, if you’re coming from another country, please don’t use our national rail. It can leave you with a very bad impression of America,” Musk said.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

If privatization does not work out, cutting and improving western long distance routes from daily to twice or 3x per week may a strategic first step.

In Canada, VIA runs The Canadian 2x per week from Toronto to Vancouver with night and day service quality compared to Amtrak.

[chapmaja]

Keeping mouth shut as to not turn this into a political debate.

[CSXBOY]

What makes me so disappointed with Amtrak is that they mismanaged a lot of their money and it went to regional areas like Amtrak Midwest and Amtrak California and etc. Long distance is what makes train travel so great and the small towns in the middle of nowhere can take serious advantage of it. When I rode the Empire Builder to Glacier National Park in the summer of 2022, I was amazed how packed the train was. The amount of stops like in Wolf Point MT, Glasgow MT, and other small towns that heavily rely on train travel were packed full of people. Now I can understand cutting some routes like do we really need six Amtrak wolverine trains a day to and from Detroit? Sometimes the train is empty when I see it and nowhere near as busy as the Empire Builder or the Southwest Chief or the California Zephyr. I just wish Amtrak would put more into long distance travel than heavily into Regional travel. But Musk is right with what he said. Freight traffic is what drives this country and when you got BNSF Z and UP Z trains that are carrying UPS and Fed Ex obviously that is more important. He said it how it is and I don't disagree.

[CSXBOY]

If privatization does not work out, cutting and improving western long distance routes from daily to twice or 3x per week may a strategic first step.

In Canada, VIA runs The Canadian 2x per week from Toronto to Vancouver with night and day service quality compared to Amtrak.

This right here is brilliant thank you for this

[Erroneous Monk]

What makes me so disappointed with Amtrak is that they mismanaged a lot of their money and it went to regional areas like Amtrak Midwest and Amtrak California and etc.

Amtrak has not "mismanaged a lot of their money" with regional areas.

Both examples listed are state-supported operations funded primarily through tax payer dollars. The Chargers on Amtrak Midwest are not Amtrak owned, hence the lack of AMTK reporting marks.

[chapmaja]

What makes me so disappointed with Amtrak is that they mismanaged a lot of their money and it went to regional areas like Amtrak Midwest and Amtrak California and etc. Long distance is what makes train travel so great and the small towns in the middle of nowhere can take serious advantage of it. When I rode the Empire Builder to Glacier National Park in the summer of 2022, I was amazed how packed the train was. The amount of stops like in Wolf Point MT, Glasgow MT, and other small towns that heavily rely on train travel were packed full of people. Now I can understand cutting some routes like do we really need six Amtrak wolverine trains a day to and from Detroit? Sometimes the train is empty when I see it and nowhere near as busy as the Empire Builder or the Southwest Chief or the California Zephyr. I just wish Amtrak would put more into long distance travel than heavily into Regional travel. But Musk is right with what he said. Freight traffic is what drives this country and when you got BNSF Z and UP Z trains that are carrying UPS and Fed Ex obviously that is more important. He said it how it is and I don't disagree.

You don't have a clue about how many of these "Amtrak" operations are handled do you? Before commenting about how things should be run I would strongly suggest that you use your time to research what you speak of and then make comments.

[David Collins]

What makes me so disappointed with Amtrak is that they mismanaged a lot of their money and it went to regional areas like Amtrak Midwest and Amtrak California and etc. Long distance is what makes train travel so great and the small towns in the middle of nowhere can take serious advantage of it. When I rode the Empire Builder to Glacier National Park in the summer of 2022, I was amazed how packed the train was. The amount of stops like in Wolf Point MT, Glasgow MT, and other small towns that heavily rely on train travel were packed full of people. Now I can understand cutting some routes like do we really need six Amtrak wolverine trains a day to and from Detroit? Sometimes the train is empty when I see it and nowhere near as busy as the Empire Builder or the Southwest Chief or the California Zephyr. I just wish Amtrak would put more into long distance travel than heavily into Regional travel. But Musk is right with what he said. Freight traffic is what drives this country and when you got BNSF Z and UP Z trains that are carrying UPS and Fed Ex obviously that is more important. He said it how it is and I don't disagree.

For God's sake, do some research on ridership/operations or talk to some employees before you post another absolutely insane take on Amtrak's operations...or anything in the future. You literally sound like Musk typing that, and NOT in a good way. The amount of false information in your statement is absolutely insane.


All I'm gonna say for this thread is that everytime I've ridden the wolverine (four times) in the last two years it has either been close to or sold out. I have multiple connections there and they say the trains almost regularly get at least 75% full. While it may not be as true on other routes, there are plenty of trains that do make amtrak money. Let the facts speak.

[JT Railfan]

What makes me so disappointed with Amtrak is that they mismanaged a lot of their money and it went to regional areas like Amtrak Midwest and Amtrak California and etc. Long distance is what makes train travel so great and the small towns in the middle of nowhere can take serious advantage of it. When I rode the Empire Builder to Glacier National Park in the summer of 2022, I was amazed how packed the train was. The amount of stops like in Wolf Point MT, Glasgow MT, and other small towns that heavily rely on train travel were packed full of people. Now I can understand cutting some routes like do we really need six Amtrak wolverine trains a day to and from Detroit? Sometimes the train is empty when I see it and nowhere near as busy as the Empire Builder or the Southwest Chief or the California Zephyr. I just wish Amtrak would put more into long distance travel than heavily into Regional travel. But Musk is right with what he said. Freight traffic is what drives this country and when you got BNSF Z and UP Z trains that are carrying UPS and Fed Ex obviously that is more important. He said it how it is and I don't disagree.

For God's sake, do some research on ridership/operations or talk to some employees before you post another absolutely insane take on Amtrak's operations...or anything in the future. You literally sound like Musk typing that, and NOT in a good way. The amount of false information in your statement is absolutely insane.


All I'm gonna say for this thread is that everytime I've ridden the wolverine (four times) in the last two years it has either been close to or sold out. I have multiple connections there and they say the trains almost regularly get at least 75% full. While it may not be as true on other routes, there are plenty of trains that do make amtrak money. Let the facts speak.

Sorry not all of us know and are “friends”with every Amtrak engineer out there like you… how about you both go do some research!

[David Collins]

Sorry not all of us know and are “friends”with every Amtrak engineer out there like you… how about you both go do some research!

If I were you, I'd check your inbox on the site.

[LansingRailFan]

Sorry not all of us know and are “friends”with every Amtrak engineer out there like you… how about you both go do some research!

If I were you, I'd check your inbox on the site.

That’s quite the threatening tone there kiddo.