Amtrak rewards 18,000 employees with $900 bonuses after record profits

A record-breaking year for Amtrak means $900 in extra cash for thousands of workers. But who qualifies—and why did executives take a pay cut?

, and Administrator

2025 December 13 . 7:55 PM

1 min read

In this image there is a poster of a train on the track. At the bottom of the poster there is some... — In this image there is a poster of a train on the track. At the bottom of the poster there is some text.

Amtrak rewards 18,000 employees with $900 bonuses after record profits

Amtrak has announced a one-off bonus for its staff after a record-breaking financial year. Over 18,000 employees will receive a $900 payment before the end of 2025. The money comes from reduced bonuses for the company’s top executives.

The rail operator achieved its highest-ever ridership and revenue in the 2025 fiscal year. Ticket sales brought in more than $2.7 billion, with 34.5 million passengers using its services. These figures set new company benchmarks.

The federal administration had previously urged Amtrak’s leadership to cut their own bonuses by half. Instead of going to executives, the saved funds were redirected to frontline workers. Unions representing train staff welcomed the decision, calling it a fair reward for their members.

No details have been released about which employees qualify for the bonus. However, Amtrak confirmed that the payment is not limited to senior managers. The company has previously used performance-based bonuses for all staff under its Market-Based Management system.

The $900 bonus will reach workers before the year ends. It follows a period of strong financial performance for Amtrak, with revenue and passenger numbers at all-time highs. The move shifts funds from executive bonuses to a broader group of employees.