Amtrak anticipates a surge in ridership during the upcoming World Cup, testing its capacity and reliability. While the Northeast Corridor is near maximum capacity, the rail carrier is investing in infrastructure and new trains. The event highlights the state of US passenger rail compared to international peers.
Gas prices averaging $4.30 per gallon have prompted Americans to abandon cars for trains. Amtrak reports 5% ridership increase in March 2026 versus last year, while Brightline in Florida saw a 20% surge. Passengers cite $140 fuel costs for Florida-to-New York trips as the catalyst for switching to rail travel.
India has invested over $26bn in metro expansion since 2014, building over 1,000km of tracks across nearly two dozen cities. Yet most metro systems achieve only 25-35% of projected ridership, with Mumbai's new Aqua Line carrying just 150,000 daily against 1.5 million projected. Experts cite inflated demand forecasts, unaffordable fares consuming 20% of lower-income workers' income, poor last-mile connectivity, and lack of integrated transport planning as key reasons.
