The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Dec. 11 reported that more than 18,000 frontline Amtrak workers will each receive a $900 bonus “to celebrate a record year of ridership and revenue.”
“At the request and urging of the [POTUS 47] Administration, Amtrak’s executive leadership team has decided to forgo 50% of the bonus packages that would have been paid out under the … previous executive bonus structure,” the USDOT said. Amtrak’s Board of Directors has also “taken action to eliminate long-term incentive bonuses for the corporation’s senior executives and has voted to distribute the affected executive bonus funds to Amtrak’s unionized frontline workers in the form of $900 bonuses.”
“We applaud Amtrak and its executive leadership team for doing the right thing,” said U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Steven G. Bradbury, Secretary Sean P. Duffy’s representative to the Amtrak Board of Directors.
“This long-overdue recognition of the employees who keep the railroad moving is a step in the right direction,” Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen National President Mark Wallace said.
“SMART-TD appreciates Amtrak’s decision to prioritize the men and women who keep our passenger rail system running every day,” commented SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson. “Providing frontline employees with a meaningful bonus is an important acknowledgment of their dedication and service, especially during the holiday season.”
Amtrak last month reported closing its Fiscal Year 2025 (Oct. 1 2024–Sept. 30, 2025), “marking another year of growth and strong performance.” “America’s Railroad” noted that it provided 34.5 million customer trips, “setting all-time records for both ridership and revenue for the second consecutive year” and “through deliberate planning and thoughtful execution, increased network capacity by 4.3% despite the challenges of an aging fleet, and customers responded with a strong demand for quality service, driving revenue that outpaced ridership.”
