Long before the White House, Biden was a commuter king.

For over 36 years, he rode the rails—daily—from Delaware to D.C.

That’s more than 2 million miles logged on Amtrak trains.

He earned the nickname “Amtrak Joe” from fellow riders.

Rain or shine, he preferred the rhythm of the rails to the chaos of flights.

The journey took about 90 minutes each way—perfect for reading bills.

Conductors knew him by name; he knew their kids and grandkids.

Biden once said he spent more time with train staff than some family.

He even memorized train schedules better than some operators.

In 2011, a Wilmington station was renamed “Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station.”

During his vice presidency, security made train rides tougher, but he stayed loyal.

He often said train time gave him normalcy in a political whirlwind.

Biden claims the train saved him—mentally and logistically.

There’s a legend he made 8,000 round trips over his Senate years.

He once joked Amtrak staff should get him a retirement watch.

When he became president, the train journey to D.C. was symbolic.

He planned to ride it again to his inauguration—but security changed that.

Still, he remains Amtrak’s most famous passenger and biggest fan.

Few politicians are so closely tied to a mode of transport.

For Biden, Amtrak wasn’t just travel—it was identity on steel wheels.