Hi PRN friends,
Thank you again for standing with us to support strong, public passenger rail.
Recently, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) put forth a directive to restructure Amtrak — turning it into a holding company with separate corporate entities responsible for infrastructure, equipment, and operations. You can read PRN's statement here.
Some describe this as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.¹ Whether it’s a holding company or a patchwork of subsidiaries, it’s not the structural reform Amtrak needs — and it distracts from the real priorities:
Fully funding Amtrak so it can expand service, improve reliability, and meet skyrocketing rider demand.
Strengthening safety, staffing, and oversight — not splitting those responsibilities across disconnected entities.
Protecting the public mission of passenger rail and the good jobs that keep it running.
We’re urging the Amtrak Board of Directors to formally oppose this restructuring proposal and instead focus on the foundation of a strong national passenger rail system: stable funding, unified accountability, and public service for all.
Take action today:
Amtrak isn’t just trains — it’s a nationwide network that connects communities, supports local economies, reduces emissions, and provides good union jobs. Splitting it up won’t fix the underlying issues. Only public investment and unified leadership will.
In solidarity,
Public Rail Now
