Amtrak Ridership is still not at Pre-Pandemic Levels

(The Center Square). Amtrak saw an increase in ridership in fiscal 2022, but it is still at 72% of pre-pandemic peak levels, according data released by the transit company.

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation – Amtrak’s official name – is still not close to full recovery in ticket sales and food and beverage revenue.

Amtrak releases fiscal year 2022 Data shows that the country is slowly recovering from the pandemic, which severely affected all forms and modes of transit in the U.S.

In fiscal year 2013, ridership reached 32.5 millions 2019. Ridership dropped to 16.8million in 2020 after the pandemic. It then fell again to 12.2million in 2021. Amtrak’s ridership jumped to 22.9million in 2022, an 88% rise.

Amtrak saw significant increases in ticket sales and food and drink revenue between 2021 and 2022. It is still not at pre-pandemic levels.

Amtrak had $2.3 billion in ticket revenue in 2019, before the pandemic. Another $143.9million was earned in food and beverages money. The revenue from tickets fell to $872.7million in 2021 and rose to $1.8 billion by 2022. Also, food and beverage revenue grew to 44,000,000, far exceeding the $23 million in 2021.

Amtrak is subsidised by taxpayers across the country because ticket and food revenue doesn’t cover its overall operating costs. This was even before the pandemic.

Amtrak’s total revenue was $2.99 Billion in 2022. This is lower than the $3.5B in 2019 revenues.

Amtrak received $3.7 billion combined in federal COVID relief money for 2020 and 2021. Amtrak claims it has a history involving operating losses. “is dependent upon substantial Federal Government subsidies to sustain its operations …”