Amtrak names new CEO

Flynn’s appointment comes as the company vies for continued federal support and amid Congressional calls to improve on-time performance. Last month, President Donald Trump proposed to slash Amtrak’s funding from $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2020 to a tentative $610 million in 2021. Congress will debate Amtrak’s proposed funding level, which Trump set in his budget for the U.S. Department of Transportation, over the next several months.

Congressional leaders, including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), want Amtrak to improve its on-time performance and service reliability. Amtrak shares portions of its network with the Class I railroads, and the two sides have been sparring for years over who should be responsible for setting on-time performance metrics. 

Amtrak’s position is that the passenger rail service set new records in ridership, revenue and earnings in 2019, and it is “on pace to achieve operational break-even for the first time in the company’s 49-year history.” The company says it’s investing billions in capital assets and is undertaking its largest fleet renewal in company history. It plans to have new high-speed Acela trains running on the Northeast Corridor next year. 

“Amtrak’s future is incredibly bright and I’m excited to join the team,” Flynn said. “Amtrak service is vital to millions of Americans across the nation and by improving the customer experience, driving safety, and strengthening our partnership with states and other stakeholders, we can do much more for the American people.”