Just hit 60,000 points... help planning a coast-to-coast trip
Jan 23, 2013, 5:10 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: AA(PPro), UA, AGR, BW(Plat), HH, WoH, MB(S)
Posts: 778
Buried in Amtrak's annual report, where else? They're pretty tight lipped (not being publically traded, they don't have to report every single detail), but you can find some information here and there - their analysis of underperforming LD routes, for instance, gives information, which can be extrapolated and matched to ridership figures. And, "Approaching," is still a relative term, basically meaning that they're not hemorrhaging money, but with ridership increasing and fare buckets going up and up because of it, it won't take forever before some LD routes may make money for the first time in the history of Amtrak. 
September 2012 Monthly Report
Jan 23, 2013, 11:53 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 161
I'm not sure where you're getting your information, but the publicly released information suggests exactly the opposite. For FY2012 (12 months ending 9/30/12), the long distance trains lost $575 million on total revenue of $557 million. The LD trains lost more money than they received in revenue. The LD trains are nowhere near breaking even.[/URL]
Jan 25, 2013, 1:01 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: AA(PPro), UA, AGR, BW(Plat), HH, WoH, MB(S)
Posts: 778
In FY2012, the best cost recovery was the Auto Train, but it was 70%, not 90% ($69.9 million revenue with $99.2 million expense). After the Auto Train, the next best cost recovery was the Empire Builder at 53%. Currently, no Amtrak long distance trains come close to covering costs.