WATCH: Amtrak CEO testifies before House hearing on improving train operations

Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner and Northeast Corridor Commission executive director Mitch Warren testified before a subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that focuses on railroads, pipelines and hazardous materials.

Watch the hearing in the player above.

The hearing focused on the challenges and opportunities for bolstering both train efficiency and the service they offer passengers.

In particular, the hearing examined the state of Amtrak’s post-COVID recovery. During the pandemic, Amtrak ridership plummeted as commuters stayed home or used other modes of transportation. the company received billions of extra dollars in COVID relief to operate largely empty trains for several months.

“Amtrak must work to attract customers and revenue and operate as a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars,” said subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-TX). “Further, it is necessary for Amtrak to strengthen its relationships with the states, including through the development of a transparent and fair cost allocation policy for state-supported Amtrak routes.”