Amtrak Reports Record Ridership

[RiversideGator]

Good news for train travel lovers:

Amtrak Northeast Ridership Up 3 Percent

by Leigh Kamping-Carder  |  July 22, 2008

Ridership on Amtrak's Northeast corridor increased over 3.2 percent annually in June, from 878,671 passengers to 907,316, according to new figures from the national rail service.

A look at the most recent numbers for fiscal year 2008, which covers October through June, reveals an even sharper increase in ridership compared to the same nine months in 2007. From October through June, over 5.6 million passengers traveled the Northeast corridor, from Washington to Boston, versus 5 million during the same period last year, representing an 11 percent increase (and coming despite increased fares). Travel on Acela, the Northeast-only express service, increased by 8 percent, from 2.4 million to 2.6 million riders.

"The routes off the Northeast corridor are experiencing record ridership numbers as travelers are now turning to Amtrak to offset the high cost of fuel," said Clifford Cole, an Amtrak spokesman, in an email.

Nationally, Amtrak has reported record passenger numbers for the last five years; and nationwide ridership was up 12 percent annually in June, when 2.5 million passengers rode.

More and more travelers are opting for the train in light of rising gas prices. But routes in other parts of the country still have enough seats to meet the increased demand, said Mr. Cole. On the Northeast corridor, however, "it is not unusual to find a large number of our frequencies to be sold out each day," he said.

http://www.observer.com/2008/real-estate/amtrak-northeast-ridership-3-percent-lags-national-numbers

[Ocklawaha]

Great Information River. For the monthly ANTI-AMTRAK poster out there, here is another little fact to consider, the highly exhulted Northeast Corridor is the leader not simply based on population density. It is also a leader based on train density and frequent headways. For example New York City, to Portland, Maine, one has a choice of 6 or more trains, Buffalo perhaps 12, Chicago 3-4, Philadelphia/Baltimore/Washington 30+, other regional cities such as Long Island, Atlantic City, Harrisburg, Richmond, Pittsburgh, again, many choices per day. Maine, Vermont, upstate New York, rural PA, OH and IN are not any more like Manhattan then Riverside-Avondale, but they have trains!

Now reflect this on Jacksonville, the AMTRAK and RAILROAD GATEWAY of all of Florida.

Miami 2 daily
Tampa 1 daily
Orlando 1 daily
Daytona Beach 0
Tallahassee 0
New Orleans 0
Los Angeles 0
Chicago 0
Atlanta 0
Charlotte 0
Waycross 0
Nashville 0
Montgomery 0
Birmingham 0
Memphis 0
Charleston SC 1
Raleigh NC 1
Chattanooga 0
Louisville 0
Cincinnati 0
Detroit 0
Cleveland 0
Gainesville 0
Ocala 0
Ft. Myers 0

On top of that, our total of two trains daily both run back to back, South in the AM, North in the PM. Blink and you miss the window to catch the train(s).

What Florida Needs:


PHOTO: FEC Express crossing into San Marco from Jacksonville about 1960.

Restore service to the FEC, Florida East Coast Railroad: Jacksonville-Daytona-Melbourne-W.Palm-Miami


Typical Seaboard Trains Waldo, Ocala, Tallahassee, Raleigh routes back in the hey day.

Restore service between Jacksonville and Tampa via Waldo (Gainesville)-Ocala-Tampa

Restore Jacksonville Terminal and resume splitting and combining all trains in Jacksonville for both coasts of FL

Persue Amtrak based regional train service: Jacksonville-Gainesville, Jacksonville-Tallahassee-Pensacola

Restore the Sunset Route, under the old GULF WIND NAME and a schedule that makes "FLORIDA" sense. Leave Jacksonville in the AM, arrive in New Orleans in the PM. Train could split for Shreveport-Dallas and Houston-San Antonio, for early AM arrivals.


Sister of the City of New Orleans was the IC's City of Miami

Restore BOTH the City of Miami: Jacksonville-Manchester-Birmingham-Memphis-Chicago/St. Louis

and


Twin to the Royal Palm, Ponce De Leon, Royal Poinciana Trains, this was what they looked like.

The Royal Palm/Ponce De Leon/Royal Poinciana route: Jacksonville-Valdosta-Macon-Atlanta-Chattanooga-Knoxville-Lexington-Cincinnati (split/combine) Detroit/Cleveland/Chicago

Work with Amtrak to become the anchor of the South East High Speed Rail Corridor as per the FRA/FTA. We are currently shown as the end of the Corridor from New York. We WERE the end of the Atlanta-Jacksonville corridor, but it has now shifted to Savannah. This leaves all of South Georgia out of the picture, so a combined effort with Valdosta, Lake City, Macon etc... isn't beyond the pale.

OCKLAWAHA