Summer 2026 is looking to be one of America’s most exciting
and busiest summer travel seasons.
With more than 100 FIFA
World Cup 2026 games and nationwide celebrations across North America commemorating
the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, Amtrak is encouraging travelers to book early, anticipating the
summer to be one of the busiest
times in the company’s 55-year history.
“Amtrak is excited to welcome soccer fans from North America
and across the globe as they cheer on their home nation teams and travel
between cities for matches,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris in a statement.
He added, “With more than 300 daily trains, Amtrak is
prepared to play a key role in delivering safe and reliable intercity travel
this summer. We are fully committed to running a world-class railroad, serving
as a trusted partner to peer agencies, and ensuring our infrastructure is ready
to accommodate new and returning guests.”
Amtrak provides daily service to nearly every World Cup host
city, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York/New Jersey Area, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Toronto,
and Vancouver. Many cities offer convenient transit or rideshare connections
between Amtrak stations and stadiums.
On America’s busiest passenger railroad, the Northeast
Corridor (NEC), Amtrak is planning targeted investments to strengthen rail
infrastructure ahead of summer. On major World Cup gamedays, additional
maintenance employees and rescue locomotives will be posted at major locations
to mitigate any potential service issues. A rigorous planning process will also
minimize maintenance outages during this time to ensure optimal service for
Amtrak and its partners.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said, “The 2026
FIFA World Cup is an opportunity to showcase American ingenuity, including how
our transportation infrastructure moves and builds our cities. This summer,
rail will help thousands of fans from around the world reach stadiums across
America. To see America is to love America.”
Additionally, the continued rollout of NextGen Acela trains
on select departures will add seating capacity to support the anticipated
increase in customer demand. NextGen Acela is the all-new, premium fleet from
Amtrak, operating between major city centers on the Northeast Corridor from
Washington, DC to New York, to Boston with destinations in between. Designed
with innovative features and amenities, guests can experience First Class and
Business Class travel on America’s only high-speed rail service.
Across the country, Amtrak will deploy “Amtrak Ambassadors,”
management staff trained to support customers alongside frontline station
employees during major events and heavy travel periods. The Amtrak Police
Department will increase patrols at key Amtrak stations and continue coordination
with local, state, and federal law enforcement.
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