Date:
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Contact:
Tonia Buell, WSDOT, 360.705.7439
Vernae Graham, Amtrak, 510.238.4360
OAKLAND – Amtrak ridership in Fiscal Year 2007 (FY07) increased to 25,847,531, marking the fifth straight year of gains and setting a record for the most passengers using Amtrak trains since the National Railroad Passenger Corporation stated operations in 1971.
Despite weather related and equipment service disruptions on the Amtrak Cascades service in FY07, ridership continued to grow on this popular route. Amtrak Cascades service between Eugene, Ore. and Vancouver, B.C., carried more than 674,000 passengers, an increase of 7.4 percent over FY06. This is the eighth consecutive year of record ridership for the Amtrak Cascades service. Ticket revenue topped $18 million, a 9.9 percent increase over the previous year.
“We are pleased with the Amtrak Cascades ridership increases,” said Scott Witt, Washington State Rail and Marine Director. “We added a fourth round trip between Seattle and Portland in July 2006 to give our travelers even more choices and convenience. The additional service combined with rising fuel prices has made train travel even more popular.”
Amtrak Cascades consists of four daily round-trips between Portland and Seattle, with service between Bellingham, Wash., and Portland, via Seattle; between Eugene and Seattle, via Portland; and between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Amtrak Cascades is operated by Amtrak under contracts with the Washington and Oregon Departments of Transportation.
About Amtrak
Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 22,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit http://www.amtrak.com/.
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