Amtrak ought to pay its own way, they insist. Frankly, if we'd put a few more dollars into our national railroad passenger system, it might just stand a good chance of paying its own way. As it is, Amtrak has done a commendable job of narrowing the gap between revenues and expenses. But it's caught in a classic Catch-22 that Congress refuses to solve. In its effort to cut expenses, passenger amenities suffer.
Food service is scaled back.
There aren't as many porters and other service people to take care of passenger needs. Engines and cars are kept in service longer, delaying maintenance. That leads to breakdowns and late trains. All that turns off prospective passengers, and that, in turn, cuts into the revenue line on the other side of the ledger. By nickel and diming the system, Amtrak can't expand or upgrade its service.