It’s being called an “untold story” – Amtrak’s road to self-sufficiency.
Steve Kulm, a spokesman for the government-subsidized passenger rail line, used that phrase in announcing Amtrak’s funding request for Congress in FY 2013 is actually less than the amount it’s receiving this year: $450 million as opposed to $466 million.
Kulm says 85 percent of Amtrak’s operating budget is coming from non-federal sources, though that 85 percent includes subsidies from states such as Illinois.
The capital request is almost $1.5 billion.
Amtrak is coming off a record year: more than 30 million passengers and almost $2 billion in revenue. Kulm says the attractions of wi-fi and e-ticketing will help boost numbers in 2012.
