Currently, the U.S. has highly developed and extensive transport system, including such diverse forms of transport like road, air, rail. However, only the first two types can be called essential, because the number of people transported them many times greater than the number of passenger railways. The main means of movement of the population in most regions of the country - a personal vehicle. Public transport, especially outside major cities, developed significantly less than in Europe, although almost any city in the U.S. have some form of public transport.

In addition, in some cities there is a ferry service across bodies of water. U.S. for vehicles - the automotive power in the world. The vast majority of American cities and suburbs created and developed with the expectation of cars and taking into account the needs of road transport. With the development of automobiles in North America, the popularity of the railways began to fall, a building with an all-embracing network of roads and highways in the high-speed 50-60s of the XX century, rail transport has lost once the primary economic position, and if continues to be profitable, but only in freight traffic. In contrast to European countries that invest money in rail transport on a par with other species, the U.S. authorities have focused on road and air transport, leaving the railroad to the side.

As a result, private railway companies began to lose gain in passenger traffic, which led to a drastic reduction per se. Only the creation by Congress in 1971 parastatal corporations save Amtrak passenger rail in the United States from extinction. The popularity of trains increased slightly during the sharp rise in gasoline prices in the 1970s, and after the attacks of 11 September 2001 and the ensuing crisis of air transport. Natural phenomena such as hurricane "Katrina" in 2005 and heavy snowfall in Colorado in December 2006, showed once again how important role to play in the rail transportation of persons in emergency situations. In addition, overloading of highways and airports constantly causing the delay. All these factors contribute to the revival of interest among Americans to train as a complementary method of movement in the country.