Hello Reader, it is Kev again!

Welcome back and Happy Thanksgiving! If you're not in the US, I still hope you have a wonderful day.

Today, we have one topic, and it's a positive one!

Amtrak announces a record-breaking year!

This past fiscal year, October 2024–September 2025, Amtrak reached new heights, all thanks to the growing love for train travel across the US and investments made in the Amtrak system over the past few years.

What Those Amtrak Numbers Really Mean

Amtrak had a strong year, and these numbers demonstrate growing interest in train travel.

• 34.5 million trips: More people traveled on Amtrak this year than ever before, a 5.1% increase. That’s a clear sign that train travel is growing in popularity nationwide.
• 6.9 billion passenger miles traveled: This number represents the total distance traveled by everyone combined. It reached a new record, indicating that not only more people rode, but also that they took more extended trips.
• $2.7 billion in ticket revenue: Amtrak set a new record for ticket sales, increasing by 10.4% from last year. More riders, higher demand, and growing interest all contributed.
• $3.9 billion in total operating revenue, including ticket sales, food services, and partnerships. The 9.1% increase shows that Amtrak’s overall business is growing, not just ridership.

But it wasn’t just about moving more people

Amtrak says it aims to move people more efficiently.

• On-time performance has improved, especially on the Northeast Regional line.
• Customer onboard service reached historic highs across the board: Wi-Fi, food and beverage, station signage, and real-time train communications all experienced significant improvements.
• Investments in infrastructure were substantial: Amtrak invested $5.5 billion in capital projects — a 24% increase from last year.
• Fleet modernization also sped up: Amtrak launched its new NextGen Acela and sent its first Airo trainset for testing.

New services are getting people excited:

• The Mardi Gras Service between New Orleans and Mobile launched, Restoring Gulf Coast rail after nearly 20 years off.
• The Borealis route between Twin Cities and Chicago transported approximately 213,000 riders in its first full year, a 227% increase since its debut.
• More than 60,000 people traveled on the NextGen Acela during its first month.

Amtrak is also doubling down on accessible, modern, and safe travel:

• Making 19 stations ADA-accessible, with dozens more to come.
• Building new maintenance facilities in cities such as Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, and D.C. to support future trainsets.
• Boosting safety: voluntary safety reports grew by 77%, indicating a stronger safety culture.

Looking Ahead

Amtrak continues to move forward. In FY26 and beyond, the company intends to:

• Continue deploying NextGen Acela and introduce Airo trains into service.
• Invest further in infrastructure, track upgrades, and station improvements.
• Stay focused on operational quality and customer experience — maintaining a service that is reliable, clean, and connected.

Why This Matters to You, the Traveler.

• More people choosing Amtrak shows strong demand, supporting expanded service.
• Significant infrastructure investments lead to improved reliability and more modern trains in the future.
• The customer-focused improvements, from Wi-Fi to station signage, make train travel more comfortable and stress-free, especially for beginners.

If you want more details, you can check out Amtrak's press release.

What has Kev been up to?

This week, I booked a trip aboard the City of New Orleans from Chicago to New Orleans, then heading to Mobile via Amtrak's Mardi Gras (the new train route), where I will spend the night before taking a Greyhound bus to my sister's.

I knew I would need to stay in a hotel overnight to make this trip work, or endure a four-plus-hour middle-of-the-night layover at the Mobile Greyhound station. While that sounds fun, I would rather spend some money to get rest.

The most significant detail I need to iron out is how I'll get to Chicago to catch the City of New Orleans. Either I will take the Hiawatha from the Milwaukee airport or Sturtevant, or have someone drop me off at one of two Metra stations to get to Union Station. It comes down to how much we want to spend on parking or whether we ask friends to do the dreaded airport pickup.

During booking, I made a mistake with my Greyhound reservation by scheduling myself on the bus for the day I arrived. The problem is that the bus would leave 13 hours before I catch it in Mobile. By the time the bus departs, I will still be traveling through Mississippi!

It only cost me a dollar to fix, but it's a good reminder to double-check connection times when linking multiple legs, both during booking and after you've booked. Mistakes happen when we book too quickly, get too excited, or are still learning. I was going too fast and forgot about the overnight layover.

Don't forget that my Patreon sale is almost over! If you’ve been thinking about joining, new members in November can get 75% off their first month’s subscription with code 52ABD. Memberships start at $5 (regular price), and you can cancel at any time.

Looking at the Markers

I want to thank Pookimo for the travel silverware! I'm bringing a set on my next trip! If you are interested, I have an Amazon list.

Interested in supporting this work? Check out my Patreon or other support options. Can't contribute right now? No problem—just sharing this with fellow travelers helps more than you know!

Until Next Week…

Safe travels & Happy Planning,
Kev Monteith