Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized America’s rail service in a speech at an investor conference, saying it’s “embarrassing” that other countries like China have high-speed rail. He suggested privatizing Amtrak could improve the experience, but would require Congressional action.
Musk said visiting tourists should avoid using Amtrak, as it may leave a bad impression of America. However, he believes privatizing certain services can lead to improvement through “feedback loops.” Musk previously proposed building a hyperloop system for high-speed travel but has yet to see success in this area.
Amtrak recently reported record ridership numbers and increased operating income. The company aims to serve 66 million passengers by 2040. Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner noted that investing in high-speed rail would require significantly more funding than what Congress has allocated so far, as the US investment is “almost a rounding error” compared to Europe’s.
Musk’s comments on Amtrak come as the company seeks federal support for its expansion plans.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/03/07/elon-musk-tells-foreigners-not-to-use-amtrak-saying-its-kind-of-embarrassing