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Amtrak

High-speed rail train | ID 69445368 © Chenjingpo2004 | Dreamstime.com

High-Speed Rail

In 12 Years, This $40 Billion High-Speed Rail Line in Texas Has Not Laid a Single Foot of Track

The budget for the project has quadrupled, and private property owners have opposed the use of eminent domain along the proposed 240-mile route.

Jeff Luse | 4.17.2025 1:10 PM

Then-president Jimmy Carter waving before departing on Marine One | CNP/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Presidential History

Final Farewells

Plus: What Biden regrets, Trump supports visas for skilled workers (or does he?), a major Amtrak screwup, and more...

Eric Boehm | 12.30.2024 9:30 AM

U.S. Postal Service website and logo | Timon Schneider/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Privatization

Privatize the Postal Service, Amtrak, Airports, and More

Privatization isn't about cutting corners; it's about unleashing and leveraging the ingenuity and competitiveness of the private sector to deliver better services at lower costs.

Veronique de Rugy | 12.26.2024 4:35 PM

High-speed rail | ID 108664031 © Dezzor | Dreamstime.com

Government Spending

DOGE Sets Its Sights on High-Speed Rail

After nearly two decades and billions in federal funding, California’s high-speed rail project still isn’t up and running.

Jeff Luse | 12.12.2024 10:30 AM

The Best of Reason Magazine logo | Joanna Andreasson

Government Waste

The Best of Reason: Abolish Amtrak, the FDA, and the TSA

In the Abolish Everything issue, Reason writers make the case for ending Amtrak, the FDA, the TSA, and everything else.

Katherine Mangu-Ward, Jason Russell, Jeffrey A. Singer, and Robby Soave | 11.19.2024 6:48 PM

An illustration of a train in the style of a Pacman game | Illustrations: iStock

Transportation Policy

Abolish Amtrak

Why should the federal government run a transportation corporation?

Jason Russell | 11.14.2024 6:00 AM

A diesel locomotive is seen in Mojave, California | DPST/Newscom

Rail

How California's Ban on Diesel Locomotives Could Have Major National Repercussions

No technology exists today to enable railroads to comply with the state's diktat, which villainizes a mode of transportation that is actually quite energy efficient.

Veronique de Rugy | 5.2.2024 2:02 AM

Greyhound bus | Andreistanescu/Dreamstime.com

Transportation Policy

Do Not Under Any Circumstances Nationalize Greyhound

Private, for-profit intercity bus services are a remarkable example of free market transportation. Socialists naturally want to shut it all down.

Christian Britschgi | 12.27.2023 6:45 AM

Amtrak train at station | Joe Sohm/Dreamstime.com

Government Spending

Biden Threatens To Veto GOP Spending Bill That Would 'Cut' Amtrak Funding to Double Pre-Pandemic Levels

Amtrak has historically received $2 billion in federal subsidies each year. Under Republicans' "draconian" cuts, they'd receive over $5 billion next year.

Christian Britschgi | 11.2.2023 2:05 PM

dreamstime_l_39643984 | Czuber/Dreamstime.com

Government Spending

As Rail Riders Disappear, the Feds Want To Spend $8.8 Billion Expanding a Rail Station

The rail lines servicing Washington, D.C.'s Union Station are carrying as little as a quarter of their pre-pandemic ridership. Officials still want to triple the station's capacity.

Christian Britschgi | 5.19.2023 5:10 PM

Rural railroad crossing in front of dirt roads and fields |  Stuart Monk/Dreamstime.com

Transportation Policy

Fatal Amtrak Crash a Reminder of Congress' Misaligned Rail Safety Priorities

Railroads spent a decade and billions of dollars fulfilling a costly federal mandate, at the expense of addressing less eye-catching causes of rail-related deaths.

Christian Britschgi | 6.28.2022 5:25 PM

Joe Biden candid overlaid on stylized photo of money | Illustration: Lex Villena; Gage Skidmore, Karolina Grabowska

Deficits

Biden Says the Deficit Is Falling. Actually, It's Rising.

Under Biden, Trump, and Obama, government federal spending almost doubled.

John Stossel | 6.8.2022 3:08 PM

Screen Shot 2021-09-15 at 9.46.08 AM | Stossel TV

Corporate Welfare

Memphis Gave IKEA $9.5 Million While Several Smaller Furniture Stores Went Under

Corporate welfare hurts the people who actually need help.

John Stossel | 9.15.2021 1:08 PM

featuresboehm | Illustration: Joanna Andreasson; source image: Leontura/iStock

Infrastructure

Everything Is Infrastructure Now

How spending got out of control and words lost their meaning.

Eric Boehm | 9.5.2021 6:00 AM

reason-amtrak2 |  Christian Fechser/Dreamstime.com

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Bill Bans Vaping on Amtrak

Amtrak's funding will double under the bipartisan infrastructure bill, while Amtrak passengers will have to put up with more rules.

Christian Britschgi | 8.2.2021 2:00 PM

reason-amtrak2 |  Christian Fechser/Dreamstime.com

Amtrak

Senate Republicans and Democrats Agree To Double Amtrak's Funding

A bill approved by the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation would give the money-losing rail company $19 billion over 5 years.

Christian Britschgi | 6.22.2021 11:15 AM

reason-amtrak | Schantalao/Dreamstime.com

Amtrak

Amtrak Wants $75 Billion To Create More Money-Losing Routes

The company's 15-year "Corridor Vision" also asks Congress for the power to sue private railroads that don't prioritize its passenger trains.

Christian Britschgi | 5.28.2021 3:25 PM

Large image on homepages | Scott Jones/Dreamstime.com

Boondoggles

Oops! Amtrak Trains Don't Fit in Miami's $2 Billion Train Station

The Miami Intermodal Center opened five years ago, but is still unable to service Amtrak trains.

Christian Britschgi | 4.24.2018 1:25 PM

Large image on homepages | DEA/Wikimedia Commons

DEA

DEA Paid Millions to Confidential Informants Who Could No Longer Be Trusted

One informant lied in court and still worked for the DEA, pocketing over $469,000 in a five-year span.

Anthony Fisher | 10.4.2016 11:40 AM

Large image on homepages | Richard B. Levine/Newscom

Amtrak

With Amtrak Subsidy, Biden Takes Taxpayers for a Ride

If Acela is such a great business, why does the federal government need to loan it money?

Ira Stoll | 9.12.2016 4:00 PM

Large image on homepages

Amtrak

Amtrak Spending $2.4 Billion on New 'Faster' Trains That Probably Won't Go Any Faster

The big purchase is a good metaphor for the state of high speed rail in America right now, where politically driven promises can't overcome hard reality.

Eric Boehm | 9.1.2016 9:35 AM

Large image on homepages

Supreme Court

Federal Court Condemns Congress for Giving Unconstitutional Regulatory Powers to Amtrak

D.C. Circuit strikes down federal law that "grants Amtrak, a self-interested entity, power to regulate its competitors."

Damon Root | 5.2.2016 4:43 PM

Large image on homepages

Policy

Amtrak Has Problems, But a Lack of Federal Funding Is Not One of Them

The railroad's problems are political, not operational.

Veronique de Rugy | 5.28.2015 9:30 AM

Large image on homepages

Policy

Self-Driving Cars Are Coming Fast, So Why Should We Spend a Dime Rebuilding Amtrak?

Trains were cutting-edge technology. In 1825.

Jim Epstein | 5.24.2015 5:00 PM

Large image on homepages

Policy

Friday Funnies: Training the Amtrak Way!

Bill Schorr | 5.22.2015 7:00 AM

Large image on homepages

Civil Liberties

More Reasons to Be Nervous About Amtrak: Illegitimate Federal Agent Hassles

The train service sells out its customers to the DEA.

Brian Doherty | 5.21.2015 2:01 PM

Large image on homepages

Policy

Is Dianne Feinstein Responsible for the Amtrak Crash that Killed Eight? No, But Government Safety Mandates Can Have Tragic and Unintended Consequences.

Congress's decision to mandate an expensive and complicated safety system made American travelers less safe.

Jim Epstein | 5.19.2015 12:08 PM

Large image on homepages

Politics

Make Amtrak Safer and Privatize It

The federal government should not be in the railroad business.

Ira Stoll | 5.18.2015 4:30 PM

Politics

Today at SCOTUS: Did Congress Delegate Illegal Regulatory Powers to Amtrak?

Damon Root | 12.8.2014 10:43 AM

Large image on homepages | cc

Policy

You Look Too Calm. What Are You, a Terrorist? Now You Look Nervous, Terrorist.

Zenon Evans | 10.28.2014 2:12 PM

Politics

DEA Improperly Paid Amtrak Worker $850,000 for Passenger Info that It Could Have Gotten for Free.

Nick Gillespie | 8.11.2014 8:05 PM

Large image on homepages | Railfan Jack/Wikipedia

Amtrak

Amtrak 'Residency' Offers Free Rides to Writers Who Don't Disparage It

Cheap propaganda?

Ed Krayewski | 3.10.2014 10:18 AM

Science & Technology

Hundreds Have Been Stranded on Three Amtrak Trains Since Monday

Trains are in Illinois, can't move because of snow

Reason Staff | 1.7.2014 12:40 PM

Culture

Amtrak Train Partially Derails Overnight in South Carolina

207 passengers, no reports of serious injury

Reason Staff | 11.25.2013 7:40 AM

Politics

Amtrak Is a Tax-Sucking Behemoth That Deserves to Die: Jim Epstein in The Daily Beast

Jim Epstein | 11.23.2013 12:51 PM

Economics

Amtrak Posts Highest-Ever Ridership Numbers

Now ... about those operational costs

Reason Staff | 10.14.2013 6:40 PM

Culture

Amtrak Passengers Left Stuck on Train for 14 Hours

Outside Richmond, Va.

Reason Staff | 7.8.2013 2:00 PM

Policy

GOP, Amtrak Argue About Train Subsidies

Stake out well-known positions

Reason Staff | 5.22.2013 2:37 PM

Politics

Amtrak Lost More Than $100 Million on Three Long Haul Routes Out of New Orleans in 2012

Big gains in the Northeast and ridership up 55 percent since 1997 but still a money loser

Reason Staff | 3.1.2013 12:20 PM

Large image on homepages

Policy

Trains in Vain

Amtrak boondoggle

Brian Doherty | 1.28.2013 7:07 PM

Politics

Illinois Amtrak Train Reaches 111 mph in Test

But can it actually make money?

Reason Staff | 10.19.2012 11:10 PM

Policy

More Amtrak Workers Failing Drug Tests

Numbers increasing over the past six years

Reason Staff | 9.28.2012 7:08 PM

Policy

Air Travel Woes Sending Passengers to Amtrak

President Richard Nixon promised Amtrak would only last two years when he established it in 1971.

Reason Staff | 8.16.2012 9:43 AM

Economics

Amtrak's Horrible, Expensive Food to Protect Overpaid Public Jobs

"It's a whopper of an idea, trading good-paying jobs for cheaper hamburgers," is the defense.

Reason Staff | 8.3.2012 7:30 PM

Economics

Amtrak Lost More Than $800 Million on Food

"It costs passengers $9.50 to buy a cheeseburger on Amtrak, but the cost to taxpayers is $16.15."

Reason Staff | 8.2.2012 8:15 PM

Politics

Dying Industry Recognizes Revived Constitutional Right

Brian Doherty | 12.7.2010 3:07 PM

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