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Just as it hires an ex-Delta CEO.

Trains are scenic, romantic, an important part of American transit history. But when it comes to taking a long, comfortable trip they have one huge selling point—the are not planes. Appreciate it while it lasts, because Amtrak is now taking a page from the commercial airlines book and is considering smaller, tighter seats.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-amtrak-idUSKBN19X2UJ?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29

"We are looking at doing some creative things in terms of creating an economy class," said outgoing Amtrak co-CEO Wick Moorman at a talk in Washington on Wednesday. One of those things is reducing "seat pitch," squeezing rows of seats closer together, making room for more rows while reducing legroom and the ease of squeezing by other seated passengers.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Wednesday was also the day that ex-Delta exec Richard Anderson became President and co-CEO of the passenger railroad service.

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These changes aren't just a ploy to wring misery out of passengers. Amtrak posted a $227 million operating loss last year, according to Reuters. And that's a high point; it's the lowest loss since 1973, two years after the company's founding.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-amtrak-idUSKBN19X2UJ?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29

Obviously it makes sense for Amtrak to make drastic moves towards profitability, one would just hope they don't come at the expense of the comfort that makes train travel better than flying.

Source: Reuters