The chief executive of Amtrak, Stephen Gardner, resigned last week, citing a lack of confidence on the part of the Trump administration.
“I am stepping down as CEO to ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
He’d worked at Amtrak, the US national rail operator, for 16 years, becoming chief executive in January 2022.
Quoting two anonymous sources, Reuters reported that President Donald Trump had sought his resignation.
Action demanded
Earlier this month, Trump’s transport secretary Sean Duffy wrote to Gardner demanding action to prevent crime at Washington Union Station.
Around the same time, Elon Musk told a Morgan Stanley conference he thought Amtrak should be privatised, Reuters reported.
Record ridership and revenue
Amtrak says it achieved record ridership last year with 32.8 million passengers, 15% up on the previous year.
Ticket revenue also hit a new record of $2.5bn.
With federal funds granted under the Biden administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, last year Amtrak invested a record $4.5bn in capital upgrades, including construction of new tunnels and bridges.
Flagship schemes include the $6bn programme to replace the Civil War-era Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel in Baltimore.
‘See you on the rails’
In his statement, Gardner said: “I am so proud of what the Amtrak team has accomplished to bring passenger rail service to more people and places across the country over these past 16 years, and I thank the Board for their trust and support.
“We did a lot together to make Amtrak safer, more modern, and a better travel experience for all our customers. From my start as an Amtrak intern back in the 1990s to ending as CEO, it has been my honour and privilege to lead this great American company, and I wish Amtrak every success. See you on the rails.”
Amtrak’s board also released a statement saying: “As Stephen departs today, we thank him for his 16 years of service to Amtrak. We will build on his accomplishments and wish him every success. We look forward to working with President Trump and Secretary Duffy as we build the world-class passenger rail system this country deserves.
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