Amtrak ridership hits record levels in fiscal 2013

[Redfairen]

Source: Associated Press

Amtrak ridership increased in the first six months of fiscal year 2013, with ridership in March setting a record as the single best month ever in Amtrak’s history, the railroad said Tuesday.

Ridership grew 0.9 percent from October 2012 to March compared to the prior year despite disruptions from weather including Superstorm Sandy. Amtrak said 26 of 45 routes had rider increases.

The railroad said October, December and January also set individual monthly records. Amtrak expects to end the fiscal year at or above last year’s record of 31.2 million passengers.

“The continued ridership growth on routes across the country reinforces the need for dedicated, multi-year federal operating and capital funding to support existing intercity passenger rail services and the development of new ones,” Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman said.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/business/news/free/20130409amtrak-ridership-hits-record-levels-fiscal.html

[jpak]

1. And we hate them

[onehandle]

2. Commies! nt

[CBHagman]

3. But hey, funding was on Mitt Romney's chopping block.

It says a lot that both the stump speeches and the Romney-Ryan campaign website specifically and explicitly targeted Amtrak for cuts (along with cultural and public broadcasting spending, of all things). It's as though people in cities and anyone who seeks alternative means of transportation just don't exist.

[pinto]

4. +1

Frequent AMTRAK / rail rider here.

[Hissyspit]

5. I put my brother and sister-in-law on the Silver Star

at a wonderful little train depot last night. It cost them $54 a person to cover three states.

[longship]

6. R&K for rail. I love Amtrak. nt

[Comrade_McKenzie]

7. Riding from Kentucky to DC on the Amtrak was one of the best experiences of my trip.

The vacation begins the moment you step on that train.

[Aristus]

8. So how about an expansion of service?

n/t

[Fuddnik]

9. They need more trains, and dedicated rails.

I took them from Tampa to Florence, SC.

Only one train in each direction each day. Arrive in Florence at 10:30pm, where you can't even rent a car at that hour (headed to Myrtle Beach). Return trip departs at 3:30am.

They need a vision for the future, and plan for how it should look in 30 years.

[GeoWilliam750]

10. From a rail fan - Dedicated rails would be nice

Especially outside the DC-Boston corridor.

Except that there is simply no way that the passenger traffic could cover the cost of new dedicated passenger lines, and the freight lines that they use are seeing ever greater traffic, making a rarity of an on-time rail journey outside of the eastern corridor.

[MADem]

11. They need PET CARS!!!! Particularly on the geezer runs to Florida!

I can't tell you how many people that would put on the auto-train and off the doggone road from Lorton to Orlando!

[Le Taz Hot]

12. "Geezer runs."

Nice.

[MADem]

13. What are you getting annoyed about? I resemble that remark!

The SOP for most of my "geezer pals" is to drive to Lorton and do the auto train.

However, the people with Fluffy or Fido can't "leave the driving to Amtrak." They have to do that last leg, which for folks of a certain age means at least two days, sometimes three for those who tire easily, on the road.

If there was a PET CAR on those trains, it would help, hugely.

Get on the auto train going south right after Xmas, or in April-ish going the other way--the median age is probably seventy five or more.

There's nothing "wrong" with being a geezer. It's liberating. But then, this is DU, where people just HAVE to take offense about EVERYTHING...

[Le Taz Hot]

15. One must wonder why a person

would choose a denigrating term to describe themselves.

[MADem]

16. It's not a denigrating term--it's descriptive. I don't feel at all "denigrated" but thanks for the

uh, "concern."


One must wonder why a person would be so highly sensitive and critical, seeking to find offense, in what should be a pleasant and lighthearted thread? I leave that kind of foolish drama to the "young whippersnappers"--or is that a verboten label, too?

[Nika]

14. I'm glad to see ridership go up, as it will be harder and harder to deny the need for high speed

rail infrastructure as demand for rail transport increases.