What Travelers Need to Know as the Federal Impasse Continues
WASHINGTON — Amtrak continues to operate on a normal schedule despite the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, but concerns are growing that a prolonged funding impasse could create significant disruptions just as the holiday travel season begins.
With Thanksgiving week—one of the railroad’s busiest periods—less than a month away, officials are warning that while services are currently secure, long-term federal funding freezes could eventually impact operations.
Amtrak, which operates as a quasi-governmental corporation, is not a direct federal agency and earns a substantial portion of its operating budget from ticket sales. This revenue allows it to continue services in the short term.
“Passengers planning to travel on Amtrak trains in the coming days and weeks can be assured that Amtrak will remain open for business,” said Amtrak spokesperson Jane Velez. “Trains are running, and tickets are being honored.”
The primary concern, however, involves federal funds that support long-distance routes and major capital infrastructure projects. If the shutdown extends well into November, that funding will remain frozen, putting significant strain on the railroad’s national network.
How the Shutdown Impacts Rail Operations
While Amtrak employees are not furloughed, the shutdown has directly impacted its federal oversight body, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
According to Department of Transportation contingency plans, approximately 23% of the FRA’s workforce has been furloughed.
While essential personnel, such as railroad safety inspectors and accident investigators, remain on the job, the agency has halted all non-essential work. This includes the processing of grants for infrastructure projects, development of new safety rules, and funding for station upgrades.
What This Means for Thanksgiving Travel
For now, travelers with existing reservations on routes like the Northeast Corridor (Boston, New York, Washington D.C.), Acela, or long-distance services like the California Zephyr and Empire Builder should not experience any immediate changes.
However, a prolonged shutdown threatens to:
- Halt Project Funding: Freeze federal payments for critical state-of-good-repair projects.
- Delay Upgrades: Stall work on station modernizations and track improvements, which could impact reliability.
- Create Uncertainty: Force Amtrak to re-evaluate service levels on federally supported long-distance routes if the impasse continues indefinitely.
Amtrak has not announced any service cancellations related to the shutdown. Travelers are advised to monitor official Amtrak communications for any service alerts as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. All attention remains on Congress, which must pass a funding resolution to restore normal government operations.
Source: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/amtrak-faces-potential-thanksgiving-disruptions-due-to-ongoing-u-s-government-shutdown-what-travelers-need-to-know/