Amtrak Ridership Scores an All-Time Record for 2024

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After so many neglected years for Amtrak improvements, this latest multi-billion dollar investment is seeing its payoffs. For the first time, Amtrak’s fiscal year 2024 saw a record-breaking 32.8 million passengers! Ridership hit an all-time record as well.

How much did Amtrak invest towards its infrastructure and equipment projects? A cool $4.5 billion and it’s a much-needed investment. The ongoing projects are giving employment opportunities to thousands of Americans not to mention giving the green light to U.S. manufacturing.

Beautiful sunset seen at a station stop on the westbound Amtrak Empire Builder. — Sunset aboard westbound Amtrak Empire Builder.

New Milestones for Amtrak in 2024

Along with the 32.8 million Amtrak passengers in 2024, revenue jumped to an all-time record in Amtrak history with $2.5 billion tickets sold.

A new train line, the Floridian, was launched when Amtrak combined the Silver Star and the Capitol Limited to provide one-train service between Miami, FL and Chicago, IL. No more train changes needed in Washington to connect to the westbound train to the Windy City.

As of now, this train route is said to be temporary due to tunnel construction under the Hudson River into New York City. Also, the Superliner cars (those sleek double-decker trains) used by the Capitol Limited were sorely needed on the western routes. With a little luck, maybe the Floridian will be a permanent addition.

Amtrak train crossing the James River near Richmond Virginia — Crossing the James River near Richmond, Virginia

Amtrak Accomplishments for 2024

Amtrak made some huge strides last year, from adding train service to existing routes, increasing the number of departures to added new station stops.

Here’s a short list of what Amtrak was able to accomplish with some of the investment dollars. There are many more subtle improvements from 2024 but here are the most prominent:

Food service saw a great improvement on several Amtrak routes. The menu on Acela trains (these trains travel solely on the east coast) now has more artisan offerings that include sustainably sourced local brands, better packaging and a revamped physical menu.
The gorgeous Metropolitan Lounge at Moynihan Train Hall in New York City now has a seasonal menu for their complimentary snacks and beverages.
Coach passengers on the Silver Meteor, Silver Star and Lake Shore Limited have an upgraded dining option. Amtrak’s Traditional Dining experience is once again offered to coach passengers on a pay-per-meal basis aboard the Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Sunset Limited and Southwest Chief. Traditional Dining is included when you purchase a sleeping accommodation. But ever since the pandemic, Traditional Dining in the dining car was limited only to sleeping car passengers to limit the amount of guests in the dining car.
Like beer? Hop aboard Amtrak Virginia trains to try Brewski, a local craft beer, thanks to a partnership with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority and the Center of the Universe Brewing Company.
Daily service was doubled between Chicago and Saint Paul, MN with the addition of the Borealis train. Now there are two round-trip trains between these great cities.
Winter ski buffs were happy to learn that the Winter Park Express (Colorado) train added service between Denver and Winter Park, Colorado for a total of 40 round-trips this past ski season. That’s seven more than was offered in 2023. For the 2024-2025 ski season, there will be a whopping 69 round-trips offered.
Expected to launch in 2025 will be twice-daily train service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. This is the first return to service for the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.

Amtrak continues to push ahead with new projects that extend well beyond the next year. Three aging tunnels are set for rehabilitation, replacement and construction. These are The Frederick Douglass Tunnel between Washington, D.C. and New Jersey, New York’s East River Tunnel and the Hudson Tunnel that connects into Manhattan.

Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge complimentary food counter with coffee, sandwiches and assorted beverages. — Metropolitan Lounge at New York’s Moynihan Train Hall

Amtrak Improvements That I’m Excited to Experience

While it’s difficult to pinpoint what I’m most excited about with all of the Amtrak projects and roll-outs, for me it’s seeing daily service on the Sunset Limited between New Orleans and Los Angeles and new and much improved dining options.

For as long as I can remember, the Sunset Limited has only operated three days a week. This always made finding available sleeping accommodations difficult as they were quickly sold out. Because I enjoy traveling on what I call a Circle America Amtrak trip, making connections with such limited space and availability was difficult. I look forward to Sunset Limited daily train service no matter which direction I travel.

Amtrak station at Alpine, Texas in an old stucco building with arched entrance. — Alpine, Texas – a quick station stop on the route of the Sunset Limited.

The other feature I’m excited about is to have to take only ONE train between Florida and Chicago aboard the Floridian. As someone who travels this route 2-3 times a year, it’ll be so much easier and convenient to not have to make connections in either Washington, D.C. or New York City.

Oh! I almost forgot…I’m excited to see Traditional Dining offered on the Auto Train, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, Floridian, Silver Meteor, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle (between San Antonio and Los Angeles).

What is Traditional Dining Anyway?

Amtrak dining car at breakfast with French Toast and strawberries. A vase with two roses is on the table. — Amtrak’s Signature Railroad French Toast – Traditional Dining option.

Traditional Dining is Amtrak’s term for a full-service dining car with white linen tablecloths chef-prepared meals instead of microwaved or cold meals, three-course dinners with complimentary glass of wine, beer or spirits and dessert. All meals are complimentary for sleeping car guests and now available on a limited capacity to coach passengers on a paying basis.

Stay tuned as more Amtrak updates are announced. We’ll post them here to keep everyone informed and excited to step onboard for a new Amtrak adventure.