I was working for the Milwaukee Road shortly after AMTRAK was established. We operated the Chicago commuter railway as well as serviced AMTRAK. My boss at the time said that it would never make money and he was right. It has lost money every year it has been in existance since the early 1970's. As much as I love railroads it is the case of either make it right or make it go away. I have tried several times to travel by rail myself but the initial cost is quite a bit more than airlines. Then you have to add for the additional travel time (which a lot of working stiffs can't afford) plus meals, etc. That said it is still a great way to travel if you can live with the downsides.