With every Amtrak route nationwide seeing an increase in ridership, the 28,716,407 paying passengers carried from Oct. 1, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008 represented an 11.1 percent increase over 2007, and accounted for total ticket revenue for Amtrak of $1.7 billion, a 14.2 percent increase over the $1.5 billion in 2007.
"Highway and airway congestion, volatile fuel prices and increasing environmental awareness all contributed to Amtrak's successful year, as did our continually improving service and on-time performance," said President and CEO of Amtrak Alex Kummant in a press release.
The 150 m.p.h. Acela Express, connecting Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, proved the most successful Amtrak line. In fiscal 2008, the Acela carried 3.3 million passengers and a generated a nearly 16 percent increase in revenue to $468 million.
President Bush recently signed a bill authorizing continued Amtrak funding, and included a state and federal capital matching grant program that will allow Amtrak to expand its services in its most popular corridors.
Also See:
Amtrak Ridership Soars, May Seek More Funding
U.S. Anti-driving Trend Continues, Could Grow
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