But the plan may not attract riders. Amtrak lines that rely on freight rail often suffer from delays, as freight trains get priority over their passenger-hauling cousins, contributing to Amtrak's reputation for slow service.

Why is Amtrak so terrible?

It's underfunded. Its trains frequently run late because freight railroads under-invest in their tracks. And most of its routes depend on funding from state legislatures, which can be cut on a whim. So that's the bad news.

Why is Amtrak so expensive and slow?

Although the railroad service continued, its problems with ridership and financial instability remained. Amtrak competed with other railway companies for train stations and tracks. On its first day of service, passenger trains had to be rerouted from seven train terminals in Chicago into just one.