Gridlock-weary travelers flock to Amtrak
From Kathleen Koch
CNN Correspondent
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Another summer of airline delays and traffic jams on the roadways has driven frustrated travelers into the armrests of Amtrak.
The United States' sole passenger train service reports monthly ticket revenues hit a record $107 million in July. Ridership slightly exceeded 2 million -- the highest in 10 years.
Some passengers are calling the train a more civilized mode of transportation.
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"I consider the train the most elegant and comfortable way to go to New York," says Donna MacEwan, a resident of Arlington, Virginia.
"I find that for relatively short distances, air travel is way too expensive and way too unreliable," adds Charles Post of New York.
Amtrak has been trying to court customers with more routes and improved service. It offers free tickets to dissatisfied customers.
"We assure every customer and every guest that steps on our train that it will be a safe, comfortable and enjoyable experience," says Amtrak President George Warrington. "And if it's not, we want the opportunity for you to try us again."
The strategy seems to be working across the country:
In California, ridership on the Capitols Line -- between Sacramento and San Jose -- is up nearly 40 percent over last year.
On the Cascades Line -- between Oregon and British Columbia -- ridership is up 17 percent.
In the Midwest, on the Texas Eagle -- between Chicago and San Antonio -- ridership is up 44 percent.
And ridership on the new high-speed Acela Regional Service -- from New York to Boston -- is up 39 percent.
The boom in passengers is welcome news for Amtrak, which has been plagued by deficits since its founding in 1971. Congress, frustrated by the shortfalls, passed a law requiring Amtrak to break even by 2003 or be liquidated.
Amtrak still is not turning a profit, but higher revenues are expected this fall, when a high-speed rail service is expected to finally launch in the Eastern corridor. Warrington says he sees opportunity in that new line, and elsewhere in the system.
"I really think there's a renaissance going on," he says. "We have turned the corner."
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