Amtrak offers a poor-quality ride

Published 1:30 am Friday, June 23, 2023

I have traveled by train in more than nine countries in Europe and Scandinavia. My recent experience on Amtrak is a far-cry from my travels in other countries. The Amtrak coaches seem old and tired. While the seats were comfortable, they look like they have not been cleaned in some time. The restroom was not clean, sanitary or well-lit. I noticed that the coach windows were filthy. The carpet was dirty and smelled of stale spilled beer.

Amtrak is “for-profit”, but it has yet to make a profit. Taxpayer subsidies have allowed Amtrak to survive. I was stunned to learn that taxpayers have supported Amtrak with more than $45 billion.

The Washington and Oregon transportation departments receive large grants from the government to provide public passenger service. We should be asking who is monitoring where and how that money is being spent. In 2016, the last year for which I was able to find data, Amtrak received over $1 billion from taxpayers.

Compared to other modern industrial countries of the world, U.S. Amtrak trains provide a worse experience. We deserve, and should demand, much better.

John Branthoover

Arlington