All-time-high 2.75 million passengers ride Amtrak in July

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Last month, Amtrak carried 2.75 million passengers â۠the national intercity passenger railroad's highest monthly ridership in its 37-year history. July's passenger total rose 14 percent compared with July 2007's count.

...

In the East, Acela Express ridership increased 5.5 percent, Northeast Regional ridership rose 8.8 percent, Downeaster ridership soared 33.6 percent, Keystone Service ridership jumped 26 percent and Piedmont ridership skyrocketed 43 percent compared with July 2007 levels.

Midwest region ridership gains include the Heartland Flyer (up 40.2 percent) and Hiawatha Service (up 37.7 percent), and West region ridership gains include California's Capitol Corridor (up 32.6 percent) and San Joaquin service (up 32.1 percent).

The Coast Starlight - which operates between Seattle and Los Angeles - was Amtrak's most popular overnight train in July, posting a ridership increase of 27.7 percent compared with July 2007's count. The Auto Train, which runs non-stop between Washington, D.C., and Orlando, and New York City-to-Miami Silver Service registered ridership gains of 14.7 and 17.8 percent, respectively.

Through the first 10 months of Amtrak's fiscal-year 2008, ridership totaled 23.7 million vs. 21.3 million during the same FY2007 period.

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news...le.asp?id=17661

Edited August 24, 2008 by A.J.

[MissStacey 1]

I'd love to do a train ride somewhere. A short trip though- I wouldn't want to spend days on a train.

I have only been on a train once many years ago. From Edmonton to Vancouver.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'll be taking the Northeast Regional to DC and back, in a few days. My car has been a bit of a b1tch lately, moody as hell.

[MissStacey 1]

Cool. So do you have a room or an area to sleep in? I have always wondered what trains are like nowadays.

When I was on one it was a school trip and we only had our seat.

[Tunisia216 2]

I do Amtrack between Wilmington and DC and Wilmington and places in NJ/NY .. The tickets have gotten really expensive lately though

But better at times than driving and battling that traffic! Or as in DC the biggest problem.. A place to park

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Cool. So do you have a room or an area to sleep in? I have always wondered what trains are like nowadays.

It's a 2 hr 45 min ride, just a seat in coach.

[MissStacey 1]

Cool. So do you have a room or an area to sleep in? I have always wondered what trains are like nowadays.

It's a 2 hr 45 min ride, just a seat in coach.

Got it

[Teacher Mark 53]

If it's good enough for Joe Biden, then it's good enough for me by golly. It actually is prrety impressive that he's ridden one that long. I wonder if it has something to do with his first Wife and his daughter dying in a car wreck?

[Heracles 417]

Amtrak is a rip off. It goes against the concept of mass transit. I should be able to travel from DC to NYC for no more than $60. Rather than the $250 each way.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Amtrak is a rip off. It goes against the concept of mass transit. I should be able to travel from DC to NYC for no more than $60. Rather than the $250 each way.

C'mon, you're making that up... that can't be right.

[Heracles 417]

If I book a few weeks in advance it works out to be:

1 Passenger: $280.00

At little cheaper than every other time I have looked at it.

Jet blue flight on the same day: $198

[Flames9_RN 358]

Have taken the train from DC to New York a few times, love it!! Comfy, and drops u off near times square!! good deal

[Teacher Mark 53]

If I book a few weeks in advance it works out to be:

1 Passenger: $280.00

At little cheaper than every other time I have looked at it.

Jet blue flight on the same day: $198

Does that include the 8 hour wait on the runway?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If I book a few weeks in advance it works out to be:

1 Passenger: $280.00

At little cheaper than every other time I have looked at it.

Jet blue flight on the same day: $198

I am going from Metropark to DC after work on Wednesday, returning after work on Thursday. I booked about 2 weeks in advance. I'm paying $86 each way. This is on the NE Regional, not the Acela (which is 30 minutes less but almost double the cost).

[Ken y Leidys 20]

If I book a few weeks in advance it works out to be:

1 Passenger: $280.00

At little cheaper than every other time I have looked at it.

Jet blue flight on the same day: $198

For that price, I'd roll w/my family in my tricked out Jeep, and still have $$ left over.