[Mr. Lucky]

The answer, of course, is that Acela isn't really profitable at all.

In claiming that the service is "profitable", Amtrak doesn't charge any of the cost of the equipment, track or other capital facilities. In government accounting, those are paid for by the tooth fairy.

[driftdiver]

Well Willie has already claimed they don’t need to be profitable, they just need to be able to sorta cover the operating costs.