Guest blogger Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo: As Amtrak improves and expands, more Americans choose to ride the rails

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Governor Robert McDonnell and the State of Virginia for the newly announced Amtrak service to Norfolk scheduled to begin this winter. For the first time, Virginians will be able to board Amtrak trains in Norfolk and reach Richmond, Washington, D.C. and the many other destinations along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.

And at the northern end of this vital corridor, the State of Maine expects the new Amtrak Downeaster extension from Portland to Brunswick to begin service later this fall.



This news comes at a time when Amtrak is more popular than ever. Since 2000, Amtrak’s ridership has increased 43 percent, with annual ridership records set eight out of the last nine years. Last year, America's passenger rail carrier reported 30 million passengers. And with one month to go in its fiscal year--and a very busy summer 2012 under its belt--Amtrak is squarely on track to set yet another record.

Between Washington and New York, 75 percent of those traveling by air or rail choose Amtrak, freeing up some of the busiest airspace in the nation for important long distance flights. In fact, if not for the region’s Amtrak service, our aviation network would face certain gridlock.

But Amtrak's astonishing ridership growth is not at just limited to the Northeast Corridor.

For example, during the last decade:

• In the Southwest, ridership between Oklahoma City and Texas has increased 28 percent;
• In Michigan, ridership between Detroit and Chicago has increased 57 percent;
• In the Pacific Northwest, ridership between Seattle and Portland has increased 68 percent
• In Wisconsin, ridership between Milwaukee and Chicago has increased 91 percent;
• In California, ridership between San Jose and Sacramento has increased 123 percent;
• In Pennsylvania, ridership between Harrisburg and Philadelphia has increased 128 percent;
• And in North Carolina, ridership between Charlotte and Raleigh has increased 155 percent.

The rail carrier's overall performance is equally eye-opening. On-time performance is at an all-time high and continues to improve steadily. Long-term debt has been reduced to just 39 percent of what it was only a decade ago. And the net cost per passenger mile is at an all-time low of one nickel, down more than 85 percent since 1981.

This turnaround was no accident.  It was a concerted effort to identify and conquer new markets. To revitalize customer service. To forge new partnerships with the states to provide regional services. To wisely reinvest in rail infrastructure.

And that concerted effort is paying tremendous dividends. Norfolk, Virginia, knows it; Brunswick, Maine, knows it; and riders across the country know it, too.

Comments

[Mike Matejka]

Thank you Joe for your leadership -- Amtrak has much to be proud of and is an environmentally sensitive and enjoyable way to travel.

[Alex_a_Chemist]

Made me really happy to read this article! Would be great to see some numbers on the Maple Leaf.

From my perspective, it seems like Amtrak doesn't capitalize on bringing in tourists/visitors from Toronto. Whenever I tell anybody they can take the train from Toronto to NYC, they're ultra surprised.

Sure it takes 10 hours, but given the amount of people that take NEON Greyhounds for $160 to $180 RT, a little advertising in Toronto's bus terminal and Union Station could go a long way on selling bus riders to enjoy the comfort of Amtrak instead!

[John Licht]

AMTRAK finally gets organized (after being treated as "red-head stepchild), and is growing, with an ever increasing brighter future. A future, the GOP wants to eliminate, and ship overseas, if they could.

Congratulations Amtrak.

JML

[Denis Eirikis]

I applaud AMTRAK and am a supporter of passenger rail. My question is how will FEC's proposed ALL ABOARD service in Florida affect public transportation. Not sure how, but it appears that they claim they can build and operate passenger rail service where farebox exceeds costs. Can subsidized and non-subsidized service co-exist?

[Jackie Mathley]

WOULD LOVE TO SEE AMTRAK GO IN TO lOUISVILLE KY, SUCH A BEAUTIFUL CITY TO SEE AND SO MANY THINGS TO DO

[Steven Faust, AICP]

Can we get the ability to bring bicycles onto all the trains, and not just the few trains with baggage cars? Danish and Swedish trains all have several cars with fold-up seats areas that serve as space for handicapped, bicycles, baby carriages, roll-on luggage and the odd sized box so passengers have an alternative to driving. All the trains passing through the Copenhagen Airport, including international trains from Sweden, have bike space. One note, cyclists in Denmark and Sweden are charged a fee to bring their bikes on board, it's not a free ride. They also provide extensive station bike parking and many commuters keep a bike parked at each end of their trip.

The Northeast Corridor trains are particularly lacking in bike space. This is an region ripe for both recreational bike touring trips, and for business-personal trips where bikes provide the first and last mile connections from Amtrak stations. Bike touring riders want to use Amtrak one-way and ride back, and also for two-way trips, such as taking a train to Connecticut, cycle back roads to Massachusetts and return home by train. American Youth Hostels ran day and weekend bike tours out of NYC on the NY Central, Pennsylvania and New Haven Lines through the late 1960's. The demand is still there for taking these trips by train in preference to driving.

What will it take to create sections of at least one passenger car per train with folding seats and/or open spaces to carry multiple bicycles?

[Jason Wilson]

I wish my Grandparents were here to see how Amtrak has grown and become the backbone of this Nation's passenger rail provider.

[Mamagypsy]

I would love to ride Amtrak everytime I go to Calif Unfortunatly I have to drive nearly 100 miles in any direction to get to an Amtrak Station I live in Columbus Ohio

[Nathanael]

Indeed! And we'd like more & faster service in upstate NY too, please. We promise to replicate the sort of ridership growth seen elsewhere. :-)