Amtrak exploring reduction of seat pitch for economy riders
It seems the influence of new CEO Richard Anderson, a former Delta Air Lines chief, is having an effect already at Amtrak.
The national rail operator is exploring ways to cram in more economy seats in rail cars.
"We are looking at doing some creative things in terms of creating an economy class," outgoing CEO Wick Moorman said at a National Press Club meeting in Washington.
That means a likely reduction in seat pitch to pack in more passengers, he said.
"There will be some other things that just don’t make it quite as comfortable."
"We compete very well with the airlines," Moorman said, adding that there are no middle seats on trains plying its busiest routes on the Northeast Corridor, and in general offers much more legroom than airlines.
Plans are still in the early stages and no decisions have yet been taken.
Amtrak carried a record 31.3 million passengers last year.
It serves destinations in 46 states although more than a third of its ridership is along the Northeast Corridor, between Boston and Washington DC.
Anderson and Moorman will share CEO duties until the latter steps down at the end of the year.
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