Amtrak ridership continues to roll on
Amtrak announced it has carried 30 million passengers this year, a new record that represents a 44 percent increase since 2000. Ticket sales also increased 5 percent over last year.
More than half of Amtrak services set all-time records this year, including seven Amtrak routes that carried more than one million passengers.
“This proves that obviously there’s a demand,” said Andy Kunz, CEO of the High Speed Rail Association.
American travelers are turning to trains as an alternative to driving and the escalating hassles of air travel, says Fox News.
“The record results come amid growing discussion over high-speed trains in the US. The parties in favor of high speed rail claim the need is obvious and the benefits numerous, while those against it say rail is far too expensive and hard to justify in today’s tough economic environment,” said Fox.
High rates, pesty security and general customer dissatisfaction with airlines is apparently mounting, with air traffic failing in recent months, according to statistics from the International Air Transport Association. Air traffic in August was down almost three percent.
Amtrak’s results show that people “want and need a third form of transportation,” Kunz said.
Amtrak pointed to high gasoline prices, continued growth in high-speed rail business travel and effective marketing campaigns as reasons why it has been successful in the past few years.
“We were created by Congress to fulfill a vital national transportation need and to connect the nation in ways no other mode of transportation can,” said Amtrak Chairman Tom Carper.
Critics point out, however, that government-run Amtrak and its Acela Express still have their problems. Two of them involve meager profits and limited government funding. Amtrak also must share tracks with freight trains.
The High Speed Rail Association hopes to address some of these issues at its upcoming conference in New York City this November, where it plans to display the benefits of high speed rail to business owners and exemplify the potential profitability that can emerge from its adoption.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports