What I don't understand IS AMTRAK's rate structure.
For example, I can hop a plane to New York out of Reagan National for $138 ROUND TRIP on the Shuttle. It costs me $157 ONE WAY on AMTRAK. [Rate quotes from US Air and AMTRAK websites.]
Now AMTRAK can put me right in downtown New York in about 2 hours, somewhat faster than the Shuttle, actually - by the time you consider getting through airport security, getting the taxi at the other end, etc. But is the savings about 1/2 hour in time really worth nearly $200? I don't think so. So I'd take the US Air Shuttle.
There is absolutely no competitive analysis being done by AMTRAK. Fact is, they are quite probably operating on that portion of the supply/demand curve where the supply so far outweighs the demand because the cost is too high. They need to drop their fares, and drop them considerably.
If that means they cannot run a profitable affair at that level, then they should go out of business.