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Rail facts

Short, sourced facts about American trains. Each one links the page it came from.

A steam passenger train waits under station lights at night, in black and white.
A Baltimore and Ohio train about to leave Chicago's Union Station, 1943 Photo: Jack Delano, Farm Security Administration / Office of War Information (Library of Congress), Public domain
FactSourceChecked
Amtrak counted a record 34.5 million trips in fiscal year 2025, up 5.1% on the year before.Amtrak media: A Year of Records
Amtrak's long-distance trains carried 4.45 million trips in fiscal year 2025. The California Zephyr grew 14.8% and the Texas Eagle 14.3%.Amtrak FY25 ridership fact sheet
North America has about 200 heritage railroads and railway museums you can ride, carrying roughly 9 million riders a year.HeritageRail Alliance

Quiz

Ticket 1

Which long-distance train grew fastest in Amtrak's fiscal year 2025?

  1. Texas Eagle
  2. Sunset Limited
  3. Empire Builder
Answer key
TicketAnswerWhySource
1Sunset LimitedThe Sunset Limited grew 18.9%, ahead of the California Zephyr at 14.8% and the Texas Eagle at 14.3%.Amtrak FY25 ridership fact sheet