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It depends on the route. The Northeast Corridor (Washington-New York-Boston) is genuinely competitive with flying for city-centre-to-city-centre perjalanan. Long-jarak trains offer a unique scenic experience but rarely beat flying on time or price. For Chicago-Milwaukee, Seattle-Portland, and California corridors, Amtrak is a reasonable option.

Acela is Amtrak's flagship express service on the Northeast Corridor, connecting Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York Penn Station, and Boston. New Avelia Liberty trainsets (Alstom) began service in 2021, reaching a maximum of 240 km/h on some sections, though average speed is lower due to shared track and curves. DC to NYC takes around 2h45m.

Amtrak's USA pas kereta allows perjalanan within a set number of segments (journeys) over a 15-day, 30-day, or 45-day period. It can offer savings for perjalananers covering many routes. However, reservations are required for each segment and popular trains fill up. Sleeper accommodations cost extra beyond the pass price.

Amtrak long-jarak trains operate on tracks owned by freight railroads (Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, etc.), which legally prioritize their own freight trains. Amtrak has limited ability to maintain schedules when freight traffic is heavy. The NEC, which Amtrak owns, has far better on-time performance.

The Acela on the Northeast Corridor reaches 240 km/h in segments but averages much lower speeds due to track geometry and shared usage. California Berkecepatan tinggi Rail between Los Angeles and San Francisco is under construction with the first Merced-Bakersfield segment targeted for the late 2020s. Brightline West (Las Vegas-Rancho Cucamonga) is under active construction as of 2025.