An independent analysis found that the average operational loss per passenger on all 44 of Amtrak's routes was $32 in 2008 (this study was done by the pro-Amtrak Pew Charitable Trust) The only profitable line was the higher-speed Acela Express in the Northeast Corridor. However, the Northeast Corridor's Northeast Regional line, which has more than twice the number of riders as the Acela, lost money per passenger. The Sunset Limited, which runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles, lost an astounding $462 per passenger.
I remember years ago traveling from Fullerton, Ca, to Las Vegas. It was a six hour drive, but I wanted to take Amtrak. Commercial trains have the right of way, so we had to wait in Bakersfield for two hours. All in all it took nine hours. But what a ball.
Another passenger had a year’s pass and used it to visit his children.
A long time ago trains were king. Then came automobiles and planes and trains faded. Operators sold their passenger lines to the government and resorted to just freight. Now as trains are becoming more popular I think things will change. Slowly at first but I think it will improve to where private investors might take a second look.
Maybe they plan on making it up in volume