In five years, Amtrak hopes to break even on food sales

Oct. 7—Amtrak, which loses about $80 million a year on its food services, will aim to break even in five years, Amtrak president Joe Boardman said Thursday.

Congress has long called for Amtrak to end the losses. Currently, Amtrak charges about $2 for a soft drink that costs it $3.40 to serve and charges $9.50 for a hamburger that costs it $16.

Boardman said most of the losses occur on long-distance dining cars, and he said new consolidated food management and automated ordering systems will reduce losses and theft.