Amtrak ridership grows as faster trains head to Seattle

By the numbers: Amtrak carried a record 34.5 million passengers in fiscal year 2025, up 5% from last year.

• Operating revenue rose 9% and ticket sales hit $2.7 billion — a 10% jump.
• The company remains on track to reach profitability by 2028.

Zoom in: Ridership surged this year on the Amtrak Cascades — which connects Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, B.C. — with nearly a million passengers in 2025, a 1.4% increase over the previous year, per Amtrak spokesperson Olivia Irvin.

• Ridership on the Coast Starlight line between Seattle and Los Angeles climbed nearly 5% over last year.
• The company also cited several local improvements, including a new rail yard in Seattle to prepare for the coming Airo train fleet, a new wash facility at King Street Station to boost cleanliness and turnaround times.

What's next: Amtrak plans to roll out the new Airo trains, which can travel 125 miles per hour, by mid-2026, according to Irvin.