A House panel investigating Amtrak charged that it lost $833 million on serving food and beverages over the past decade, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It costs passengers $9.50 to buy a cheeseburger on Amtrak, but the cost to taxpayers is $16.15," says Rep. John Mica (R-FL). "Riders pay $2.00 for a Pepsi, but each of these sodas costs the U.S. Treasury $3.40."
Some in Congress want to outsource Amtrak's food and beverage service in order to rein in costs.
Reviews of the national rail service's foodservice operations by the Inspector General have found internal problems with crime, which also contribute to losses when employees provide items at no cost, steal inventory, short the cash register, or sell non-Amtrak items.