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In FY09 Amtrak required federal and state subsidies of $1.8 billion to cover its operating losses and capital expenditures.  The operating loss was approximately $1.3 billion.  In FY10 the preliminary operating loss subject to audit was also $1.3 billion rounded.  In addition, in FY10 Amtrak received $1.3 billion in ARRA funds.  These are the direct subsidies.  In addition, Amtrak pays no federal, state, or local taxes.  It does not even pay fuel taxes.  Moreover, it receives a variety of other subsidies, i.e. assumption of station costs by local communities. In FY09 the average federal and state subsidy per passenger mile was 21.15 cents, compared to 18.39 cents per passenger mile in FY08.  By comparison the average federal subsidy for commercial airlines and motorists is less than a penny per passenger mile or vehicle mile traveled.   In FY09 only the Acela's and the Washington - Newport News trains had an operating profit.  The NEC regional trains failed to cover their operating costs, but the Acela's profit gave the NEC is slim operating profit.  However, after factoring in interest and depreciation, the NEC lost money.  In FY10 only the Acela's and Washington to Lynchburg trains covered their operating costs.  Again, the NEC regional trains failed to cover their operating costs, but the Acela's profit gave the NEC a slim operating profit.  But interest and depreciation, if it was allocated by routes, would have pushed these trains into the red. The Pacific Surfliners, The Capitols, and the San Joaquin's lost 14.0, 26.3, and 3.8 cents per passenger mile in FY09.  In FY10 they lost 14.3, 15.9 and 8.1 cents per passenger mile. At the end of the day motorists cover the cost of driving, although they don't see the full cost in the fuel taxes levied at the pump or in the fees they pay.  Most motorists pay federal income taxes, state income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, etc.  They also pay a piece of corporate taxes every time that they buy goods and services.  It is from these pools of money that funds are allocated for local streets, county roads, and state highways to the extent that building them is not covered by state and local fuel taxes.  There is, however, an element of cost shifting in the process.  Wealthy people pay more in income taxes, property taxes, etc.  Accordingly, they subsidize less well off motorists, some of whom pay little if any federal and state income taxes.
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