Editing Amtrak (section)

===2000s: Growth in the 21st century===
[[File:The_Sunday_Morning_Cardinal.jpg|right|thumb|[[GE Genesis]] diesel locomotives lead the ''[[Cardinal (train)|Cardinal]]'' in 2006. In the 21st century, Amtrak replaced the F40PH with the Genesis series]]
Ridership increased during the first decade of the 21st century after the implementation of capital improvements in the NEC and rises in automobile fuel costs. The inauguration of the [[high-speed rail|high-speed]] ''[[Acela]]'' in late 2000 generated considerable publicity and led to major ridership gains. However, through the late 1990s and very early 21st century, Amtrak could not add sufficient express freight revenue or cut sufficient other expenditures to break even. By 2002, it was clear that Amtrak could not achieve self-sufficiency, but Congress continued to authorize funding and released Amtrak from the requirement.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Wirzbicki |title=Senate votes to increase funding for Amtrak service |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/10/31/senate_votes_to_increase_funding_for_amtrak_service?mode=PF |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=June 12, 2008 |archive-date=September 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923101330/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/10/31/senate_votes_to_increase_funding_for_amtrak_service?mode=PF |url-status=dead}}</ref> In early 2002, [[David L. Gunn]] replaced Warrington as seventh president. In a departure from his predecessors' promises to make Amtrak self-sufficient in the short term, Gunn argued that no form of passenger transportation in the United States is self-sufficient as the economy is currently structured.<ref>{{cite speech|title=Testimony of David Gunn Before Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies |first=David L. |last=Gunn |date=June 20, 2002 |location=Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies |url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/Simple_Copy_Page&cid=1081442674364&c=am2Copy&ssid=172 |access-date=June 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627100644/https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FSimple_Copy_Page&cid=1081442674364&c=am2Copy&ssid=172 |archive-date=June 27, 2012}}</ref> Highways, airports, and air traffic control ''all'' require large government expenditures to build and operate, coming from the [[Highway Trust Fund]] and [[Airport and Airway Trust Fund|Aviation Trust Fund]] paid for by user fees, highway fuel and road taxes, and, in the case of the General Fund, from general taxation.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Szep |title=Q&A with Amtrak President Alex Kummant |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSSIB27628520080612?sp=true |work=Reuters |date=June 12, 2008 |access-date=June 14, 2008 |archive-date=January 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111164033/http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSSIB27628520080612?sp=true |url-status=live}}</ref> Gunn dropped most freight express business and worked to eliminate deferred maintenance.<ref>{{cite journal |date=Spring–Summer 2005 |title=Amtrak President David Gunn Lectures at UIUC |journal=CEE Alumni Association Newsletter, Online Edition |publisher=CEE Alumni Association |location=University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |url=http://cee.uiuc.edu/alumni/newsletter/p08_krambles.aspx |access-date=June 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825052747/http://cee.uiuc.edu/alumni/newsletter/p08_krambles.aspx |archive-date=August 25, 2007}}</ref>
[[File:Amtrakcropped.jpg|alt=GE Genesis diesel pulls the California Zephyr Train in front of the Rocky Mountains|thumb|Two GE Genesis diesels lead the ''California Zephyr'' in front of the Rocky Mountains]]
A plan by the Bush administration "to privatize parts of the national passenger rail system and spin off other parts to partial state ownership" provoked disagreement within Amtrak's board of directors. Late in 2005, Gunn was fired.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amtrak's President Is Fired by Its Board |first=Matthew |last=Wald |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/national/09cnd-amtrak.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 9, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2015}}</ref> Gunn's replacement, [[Alexander Kummant]] (2006–08), was committed to operating a national rail network, and like Gunn, opposed the notion of putting the Northeast Corridor under separate ownership.<ref name="surprising forecast" /> He said that shedding the system's long-distance routes would amount to selling national assets that are on par with national parks, and that Amtrak's abandonment of these routes would be irreversible. In late 2006, Amtrak unsuccessfully sought annual congressional funding of $1 billion for ten years.<ref name="surprising forecast" /> In early 2007, Amtrak employed 20,000 people in 46 states and served 25&nbsp;million passengers a year, its highest number since its founding in 1970. ''[[Politico]]'' noted a key problem: "the rail system chronically operates in the red. A pattern has emerged: Congress overrides cutbacks demanded by the White House and appropriates enough funds to keep Amtrak from plunging into insolvency. But, Amtrak advocates say, that is not enough to fix the system's woes."<ref>{{cite web |title=A Younger Biden Goes the Extra Miles for Amtrak |first=Andrew |last=Glass |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2672.html |website=[[Politico]] |date=February 7, 2007 |access-date=May 11, 2015 |archive-date=June 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603012144/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2672.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Joseph H. Boardman]] replaced Kummant as president and CEO in late 2008.<ref name="Boardman selected" />
[[File:Acela_old_saybrook_ct_summer2011.jpg|right|thumb|An ''[[Acela]]'' at [[Old Saybrook, Connecticut]], in 2011]]
In 2011, Amtrak announced its intention to improve and expand the high-speed rail corridor from Penn Station in NYC, under the Hudson River in new tunnels, and double-tracking the line to [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark, NJ]], called the [[Gateway Project|Gateway Program]], initially estimated to cost $13.5&nbsp;billion (equal to ${{Inflation|index=US|value=13.5|start_year=2011}} billion in {{Inflation/year|index=US}}).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frassinelli |first=Mike |title=N.J. senators, Amtrak official to announce new commuter train tunnel project across the Hudson |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=February 6, 2011 |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/nj_senators_to_announce_new_co.html |access-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110207232224/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/nj_senators_to_announce_new_co.html |archive-date=February 7, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gateway Project |website=Amtrak |date=February 2011 |url=http://lautenberg.senate.gov/assets/Gateway.pdf |access-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207210953/http://lautenberg.senate.gov/assets/Gateway.pdf |archive-date=February 7, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fleisher |first1=Liza |last2=Grossman |first2=Andrew |title=Amtrak's Plan For New Tunnel Gains Support |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=February 8, 2011 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704422204576130673174593178 |access-date=August 28, 2011 |archive-date=July 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712035617/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704422204576130673174593178 |url-status=live}}</ref>

From May 2011 to May 2012, Amtrak celebrated its 40th anniversary with festivities across the country that started on National Train Day (May 7, 2011). A commemorative book entitled ''Amtrak: An American Story'' was published, a documentary was created, [[Amtrak paint schemes#40th anniversary heritage units|six locomotives were painted in Amtrak's four prior paint schemes]], and an Exhibit Train toured the country visiting 45 communities and welcoming more than 85,000 visitors.<ref>{{cite web |last=National Railroad |title=Bulletin Board (40th Anniversary Train Ends U.S.) |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/779/31/Amtrak-Ink-0612.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108035801/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/779/31/Amtrak-Ink-0612.pdf |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |work=Amtrak Ink |publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation}}</ref>

After years of almost revolving-door CEOs at Amtrak, in December 2013, Boardman was named "Railroader of the Year" by ''Railway Age'' magazine, which noted that with over five years in the job, he is the second-longest serving head of Amtrak since it was formed more than 40 years ago.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-president-and-ceo-joe-boardman-named-railroader-of-the-year.html |title=Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman named Railroader of the Year |first=William C. |last=Vantuono |date=December 9, 2013 |website=Railway Age |access-date=April 12, 2014 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104135/http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-president-and-ceo-joe-boardman-named-railroader-of-the-year.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On December 9, 2015, Boardman announced in a letter to employees that he would be leaving Amtrak in September 2016. He had advised the Amtrak Board of Directors of his decision the previous week. On August 19, 2016, the Amtrak Board of Directors named former [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] President & CEO [[Charles Moorman|Charles "Wick" Moorman]] as Boardman's successor with an effective date of September 1, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.amtrak.com/2016/08/amtrak-names-industry-veteran-wick-moorman-president-and-chief-executive-officer/ |title=Amtrak Names Industry Veteran Wick Moorman President and Chief Executive Officer |website=Amtrak Media |date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=September 1, 2016 |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921205206/http://media.amtrak.com/2016/08/amtrak-names-industry-veteran-wick-moorman-president-and-chief-executive-officer/ |url-status=live}}</ref> During his term, Moorman took no salary<ref>{{cite news |last1=McGeehan |first1=Patrick |title=Amtrak Picks Delta's Former Chief to Lead It Through Challenging Time |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/nyregion/amtrak-ceo-richard-anderson.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2017 |archive-date=June 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626233736/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/nyregion/amtrak-ceo-richard-anderson.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and said that he saw his role as one of a "transitional CEO" who would reorganize Amtrak before turning it over to new leadership.<ref name="WaPoAnderson" />

On November 17, 2016, the Gateway Program Development Corporation (GDC) was formed for the purpose of overseeing and effectuating the rail infrastructure improvements known as the Gateway Program.<ref name=Gateway>{{cite web |url=http://www.gatewayprogram.org/content/dam/nec/18-1-18_GDC-AnnualReport_LR.pdf |title=Gateway Program Overview |date=December 9, 2018 |website=Gatewayprogram.org |access-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203193731/http://gatewayprogram.org/content/dam/nec/18-1-18_GDC-AnnualReport_LR.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> GDC is a partnership of the States of New York and New Jersey and Amtrak. The Gateway Program includes the Hudson Tunnel Project, to build a new tunnel under the Hudson River and rehabilitate the existing century-old tunnel, and the Portal North Bridge, to replace a century-old moveable bridge with a modern structure that is less prone to failure. Later projects of the Gateway Program, including the expansion of track and platforms at Penn Station New York, construction of the Bergen Loop and other improvements will roughly double capacity for Amtrak and NJ Transit trains in the busiest, most complex section of the Northeast Corridor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gatewayprogram.org/content/dam/nec/18-1-18_GDC-AnnualReport_LR.pdf |title=Gateway Program Overview |date=December 9, 2018 |website=Gatewayprogram.org |access-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203193731/http://gatewayprogram.org/content/dam/nec/18-1-18_GDC-AnnualReport_LR.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2017, it was announced that former [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]] and [[Northwest Airlines]] CEO [[Richard H. Anderson (businessman)|Richard Anderson]] would become Amtrak's next President & CEO.<ref name="WaPoAnderson" /> Anderson began the job on July 12, assuming the title of President immediately and serving alongside Moorman as "co-CEOs" until the end of the year. On April 15, 2020, [[Atlas Air]] Chairman, President and CEO William Flynn was named Amtrak President and CEO. In addition to Atlas Air, Flynn has held senior roles at [[CSX Transportation]], [[SeaLand|SeaLand Services]] and GeoLogistics Corp. Anderson would remain with Amtrak as a senior advisor until December 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.amtrak.com/2020/03/amtrak-names-william-flynn-as-ceo-and-president/ |title=Amtrak Names William Flynn as CEO and President |date=March 2, 2020 |website=Amtrak |access-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609184253/https://media.amtrak.com/2020/03/amtrak-names-william-flynn-as-ceo-and-president/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

As Amtrak approached profitability in 2020, the company undertook planning to expand and create new intermediate-distance corridors across the country. Included were several new services in Ohio, Tennessee, Colorado, and Minnesota, among other states.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McMurtry |first1=Ian |title=Amtrak 2035: Does Amtrak Finally Have a Strong Plan Against Airlines? |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/10/24/amtrak-2035-does-amtrak-finally-have-a-strong-plan-against-airlines/ |access-date=February 7, 2021 |agency=Airline Geeks |date=October 24, 2020 |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205153638/https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/10/24/amtrak-2035-does-amtrak-finally-have-a-strong-plan-against-airlines/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Eric |title=Amtrak route restructure targets new corridors |url=https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Amtrak-route-restructure-targets-new-corridors-15928591.php |access-date=February 7, 2021 |agency=[[Times Union (Albany)|Times Union]] |date=February 5, 2021 |archive-date=February 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207142800/https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Amtrak-route-restructure-targets-new-corridors-15928591.php |url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]], Amtrak continued operating as an essential service. It started requiring face coverings the week of May 17, and limited sales to 50% of capacity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/07/metro/amtrak-will-require-passengers-wear-face-coverings-starting-next-week/ |title=Amtrak will require passengers to wear face coverings starting next week |website=Boston Globe.com |date=May 7, 2020 |access-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724172320/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/07/metro/amtrak-will-require-passengers-wear-face-coverings-starting-next-week/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Most long-distance routes were reduced to three weekly round trips in October 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Shanna |title=Coronavirus Service Cuts For Amtrak Trains Are Hurting The Local Economy And Traditions In Southern Colorado |url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/10/09/coronavirus-amtrak-service-cutshurting-souther-colorado-economy-traditions/ |access-date=October 11, 2020 |website=[[KRCC]] |date=October 9, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021164714/https://www.cpr.org/2020/10/09/coronavirus-amtrak-service-cutshurting-souther-colorado-economy-traditions/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/tri-weekly-long-distance-schedules.html |title=Long Distance Schedules Change to Tri-Weekly |date=August 2020 |website=Amtrak |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923225950/https://www.amtrak.com/alert/tri-weekly-long-distance-schedules.html |archive-date=September 23, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2021, following President Joe Biden's [[American Jobs Plan]] announcement, Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn outlined a proposal called Amtrak Connects US that would expand state-supported intercity corridors with an infusion of upfront capital assistance.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sobol |first=Evan |title=Amtrak announces 'Connects US' plan to grow rail services over next 15 years |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/amtrak-announces-connects-us-plan-to-grow-rail-services-over-next-15-years/article_1cefd7a5-e294-57a9-810c-b15c6ef6916c.html |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=FOX Carolina |language=en |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414144513/https://www.foxcarolina.com/amtrak-announces-connects-us-plan-to-grow-rail-services-over-next-15-years/article_1cefd7a5-e294-57a9-810c-b15c6ef6916c.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Invest in America. Invest in Amtrak|url=https://www.amtrakconnectsus.com/|access-date=April 1, 2021|website=Amtrak Connects US|language=en-US|archive-date=April 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401154844/https://www.amtrakconnectsus.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> This would expand service to cities including [[Las Vegas]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[Baton Rouge]], [[Nashville]], [[Chattanooga]], [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus (Ohio)]], [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington (North Carolina)]], [[Cheyenne, Wyoming|Cheyenne]], [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], [[Concord, New Hampshire|Concord]], and [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/06/984464351/as-biden-pushes-major-rail-investments-rail-amtraks-2035-map-has-people-talking|title=As Biden Pushes Major Rail Investments, Amtrak's 2035 Map Has People Talking|work=NPR|date=April 6, 2021|last=Wamsley|first=Laurel|access-date=May 22, 2021|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522233332/https://www.npr.org/2021/04/06/984464351/as-biden-pushes-major-rail-investments-rail-amtraks-2035-map-has-people-talking|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in March 2021, Amtrak announced plans to return 12 of its long-distance routes to daily schedules later in the spring.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://media.amtrak.com/2021/03/with-increased-demand-and-congressional-funding-amtrak-restores-12-long-distance-routes-to-daily-service/|title=With Increased Demand and Congressional Funding, Amtrak Restores 12 Long Distance Routes to Daily Service|date=March 10, 2021|website=Amtrak|access-date=April 11, 2021|archive-date=October 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012085947/https://media.amtrak.com/2021/03/with-increased-demand-and-congressional-funding-amtrak-restores-12-long-distance-routes-to-daily-service/|url-status=live}}</ref> Most of these routes were restored to daily service in late-May 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amtrak restores long-distance service on routes following COVID cutbacks |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2021/05/25/amtrak-train-long-distance-service-restored-covid-cutbacks/7426411002/ |access-date=July 10, 2021 |work=USA TODAY |archive-date=January 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114210138/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2021/05/25/amtrak-train-long-distance-service-restored-covid-cutbacks/7426411002/ |url-status=live}}</ref> However, a resurgence of the virus caused by the [[SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant|Omicron variant]] caused Amtrak to modify and/or suspend many of these routes again from January to March 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amtrak to decrease service on most routes Jan. 24 to March 27 |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-to-decrease-service-on-most-routes-jan-24-to-march-27/ |access-date=January 26, 2022 |work=Trains |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125210438/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-to-decrease-service-on-most-routes-jan-24-to-march-27/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 19, 2025, Stephen Gardner stepped down as CEO, citing an effort to ensure that Amtrak continued to enjoy the full faith and confidence of the [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]].<ref>{{cite press release |date=March 19, 2025 |title=Amtrak CEO Leadership Transition |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2025/03/amtrak-ceo-leadership-transition/ |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref> This came amid statements from Trump advisor [[Elon Musk]] stating an intention to privatize Amtrak.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Shepardson
| first = David
| title = Elon Musk says Post Office, Amtrak should be privatized
| work = Reuters
| date = March 6, 2025
| url = https://www.reuters.com/world/us/elon-musk-says-post-office-amtrak-should-be-privatized-2025-03-05/
| access-date = March 20, 2025}}</ref>