• Internship and Co-op Program

    Future Careers Program

    Amtrak’s internship, externship, and co-op program identifies and engages talented individuals, inspiring career interest in passenger railroad. Our internship and co-op positions offer valuable experiences to advance students’ competency and confidence as professionals in their areas of study.

Internship and Co-op Program

Amtrak’s internship and co-op program identifies and engages talented individuals, inspiring career interest in passenger railroad. Our internship and co-op positions offer valuable experiences to advance students’ competency and confidence as professionals in their area of study.

About

Amtrak intern, extern, and co-op positions are available year-round for undergraduate and graduate students. Amtrak hires and onboards interns two times per year: academic Year ( August-April) and Summer (May-August). We align our co-op program and hire in accordance with specific university timelines and requirements.

We are excited to hire motivated and energetic students into our growing Future Careers program. These internship opportunities will allow you to apply the skills you’ve learned in your academic program in a real-world setting at a large transportation organization. Amtrak’s interns, externs & co-ops play an integral role in the success of our organization.

For almost 50 years, Amtrak has been a terrific launch pad for professional careers, inspiring hundreds of students to put their skills to good use. Amtrak’s recruiting team attends various events throughout the calendar year at college campuses to meet talented students interested in working at Amtrak.

Qualifications

Internship & Co-op Qualifications:

  • Actively enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program at an accredited college or university located in the United States.
  • At least one (1) full year of academic study completed, or sophomore status.
  • Cumulative 2.8 minimum GPA.
  • Legally authorized to work in the United States without Amtrak sponsorship.

Externship Qualifications:

  • Graduated college within the last 3 years.
  • Must be able to work at least 40 hours.
  • Foundational skills within the area of focus.

Areas of Focus

If you think your field of study doesn’t align to positions in the railroad industry, think again! We recruit numerous majors/disciplines for our opportunities in the following areas:

Operations:

  • Engineering
  • Mechanical
  • Transportation
  • Network Support
  • Amtrak Police

Corporate:

  • Human Resources
  • Stations, Properties, and Accessibility
  • Procurement
  • Enterprise Project Management Office
  • Safety, Health, and Environmental
  • Marketing
  • Strategy and Planning
  • Government Affairs and Corporate Communications
  • Finance
  • Information Technology

Locations

Internships are typically available in the following cities on the Amtrak network:

  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Washington, DC
  • New York, NY
  • Wilmington, DE
  • Chicago, IL
  • Los Angeles, CA

Please note, positions are based on the location of the department. Not all roles are available in every location. 

Intern and Co-op Program Benefits

Meaningful project work. Day to day, Amtrak interns and co-ops undertake valuable, hands on project work that helps them grow their skill sets and jump start their careers. 

Paid internships. All interns and co-ops are paid at competitive hourly rates and are eligible for one paid personal day per calendar year. 

Ride the train for free. Interns and co-ops are also eligible to receive Amtrak rail travel benefits for personal and business use. Many students report that using their travel benefits to explore different Amtrak routes and seeing new places is their favorite perk!

Site tours. Interns and co-ops also receive broad exposure to Amtrak’s operations outside of their department and meet other students through planned activities. In the past these have included Amtrak site tours, including Moynihan Train Hall in New York City.

Site visits. Other previous site visits have included the National Communications Center and Consolidated National Operations Center in Wilmington, Delaware. 

Meet Amtrak leadership. Amtrak leadership have also hosted lunch and learn sessions for interns and co-ops that focused on relevant topics at Amtrak, such as sustainability and network planning. 

 

Through these valuable activities, interns gain access to a wide network of career professionals knowledgeable in their field or craft.