Amtrak is riding a wave of popularity that hasn't been seen in years. The national passenger rail carrier broke ridership records two years running, hauling 34.5 million passengers last year, a 5 percent jump from the previous year. But now comes the ultimate test: hosting the World Cup.
The tournament, arriving this summer with 10 million expected visitors, will bring intense pressure on a system already operating at its limits. The Northeast Corridor, Amtrak's lifeline where most traffic flows, is near maximum capacity and moving roughly 15 million riders annually across a 457-mile stretch from Boston to Washington DC. Twenty-one World Cup matches are scheduled in that region alone.
Sebastian Caillat, a 22-year-old soccer consultant, witnessed Amtrak's social magic firsthand. Last summer, he rode from New York to Philadelphia for a Club World Cup match between Brazilian clubs Palmeiras and Botafogo. The train became a rolling celebration, with fans chanting, waving banners, and filling the cabins with green powder. "Fans doing full chants on the Amtrak, banners waving, and flags," Caillat recalled. "It got to the point where there was green powder dust floating around in the cabins."
He's banking on a repeat during the World Cup, particularly eyeing the June 19 match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia. New York and New Jersey are home to more than 250,000 Haitians, and Haiti is returning to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. "Oh man, that is going to be an unbelievable public transportation experience," Caillat said.
Amtrak has invested heavily to prepare. The railroad spent $30 million fixing tracks, catenary wires, and infrastructure on the Northeast Corridor. It opened a new Portal North Bridge in New Jersey this spring, replacing a 116-year-old span. The carrier also introduced new Acela trains last year with 27 percent more passenger capacity and plans to add coach cars to Northeast Regional trains this summer. Crews are ensuring construction won't disrupt operations on match days.
W Kyle Anderson, Amtrak's World Cup co-lead, framed the tournament as a showcase moment. "This is our opportunity to show why the Northeast Corridor, in particular, or the Cascades in the Pacific Northwest, are known for being America's best railroad corridors," he said.
Yet serious constraints loom. The company faces potential significant budget cuts under the Trump Administration, which has proposed slashing passenger rail funding by 82 percent in its 2027 budget proposal. Congress routinely underfunds Amtrak. In fiscal 2023, the carrier received $2.4 billion when it requested $3.3 billion.
The infrastructure problem cuts deeper. Amtrak owns only small portions of its tracks. Freight railroads own most of the system and prioritize cargo over passengers, preventing modernization and reliable scheduling. John Robert Smith, who chaired Amtrak's board from 2001 to 2003, expressed frustration. "It just saddens me to think of the impact passenger rail could have, if this country had invested in passenger rail the way it should have over the years," he said.
The disparity with peer nations is stark. Britain, France, Germany, and Spain maintain far superior systems. A traveler can take a three-hour train from Barcelona to Madrid, roughly the same distance as San Francisco to Los Angeles, for around $100. That same journey in California takes nine hours on Amtrak, despite decades of state investment in a planned high-speed rail line.
Some regions face particular challenges. Dallas and Houston are separated by 250 miles and will host 15 combined matches, but there is no direct Amtrak route between them. In 1994, when the US last hosted the World Cup, a six-hour train connected the cities. That route was cancelled in 1995. Today, the journey requires about 23 hours.
Pricing has become contentious. Amtrak uses dynamic ticket pricing based on demand, which won't change for the World Cup. By early May, a same-day roundtrip from Washington DC to New York for the final on July 19 cost $160, compared to $177 for a flight. NJ Transit is selling 40,000 roundtrip tickets per match from New York to MetLife Stadium at $98, down from an initial $150 price.
Adie Tomer, a senior fellow at Brookings Metro, warned against comparing this World Cup to other major events. "With how big the country is compared to most host countries, this is going to be nothing like traveling for other major global soccer events," he said. "People keep making this comparison to the Olympics. I would throw all those out. That's ridiculous. That's a one-city thing."
Anderson acknowledged the challenge head-on, comparing World Cup demand to Thanksgiving, Amtrak's busiest season. The railroad is urging customers to book early, though trains typically don't sell out during the holiday rush.
Some hope exists. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law committed $66 billion to passenger rail. Brightline, a privately operated service in Florida, launched a higher-speed train from Miami to Orlando in 2023 and plans an LA-to-Las Vegas bullet train by 2029. California has invested in expanded Pacific Surfliner service.
Kansas City is pursuing a temporary fix. The state is working with Amtrak and Union Pacific to add cars to trains during the tournament. Deborah Fischer Stout, executive director of the Northern Flyer Alliance, wants more ambition. "I don't see what's holding them back other than vision," she said, advocating for dedicated World Cup service between Kansas City and Dallas.
The equipment itself poses a risk. Amtrak has launched what it calls an "aggressive fleet preparedness approach," including health assessments, additional inspections, and preventative maintenance. But the age of the equipment means failure remains a real concern. New Siemens-made Airo trains with greater capacity won't debut in the Pacific Northwest until after the tournament.
Author James Rodriguez: "Amtrak is being asked to perform a miracle with one hand tied behind its back, and if it stumbles during the World Cup, it won't be for lack of effort."
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