© 2003, NCI, Inc.
Destination Freedom
Newsletter of the National Corridors Initiative, Inc
Vol. 4 No. 36, September 15, 2003
Used with permission

Revenue and ridership are up again on Amtrak's western trains, with the Pacific Surfliner recording the biggest gains.

Eugene K. Skoropowski, Managing Director of the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority in Oakland, said Pacific Surfliner trains carried 221,941 passengers, up 18.7 percent compared to one year ago.

The carrier noted, "Due to a processing error the 24,741 'Rail-2-Rail' passengers are not included." Amtrak earned $ 3,936,670 in ticket revenues, gaining 16.4 percent vs Fiscal 2002.

The carrier reports Capitol Corridor trains carried 94,528 passengers, up 1.0 percent over one year ago, a record for the month. Ticket sales totaled $1,055,950, and increase of 2.1 percent above the year earlier numbers. This is the 12th consecutive month of record high ridership on the Capitol Corridor, and ticket revenue was the highest ever for the service.

The San Joaquins carried 74,321 passengers, up 5.8 percent vs August 2002. Ticket revenues totaled $1,841,834, up 1.7 percent. San Joaquin ticket revenue was the second highest monthly total ever for the service.

Including the Rail-2-Rail passengers, total Pacific Surfliner ridership was 246,682, far surpassing the highest monthly ridership total for the service, which was 227,431 in August 1997.