Amtrak Will Likely Break Ridership Record This Year

Amtrak is on track to top its 2019 ridership levels for the first time, reports David Shepardson for Reuters, despite its trains having lower capacity than before the pandemic.

“Ridership was 20% higher in the first seven months of Amtrak's budget year that began Oct. 1, and ticket revenue was up 10% versus the same period in 2023, according to written testimony by Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner to be presented at a hearing of a U.S. House of Representative subcommittee on Wednesday.” Ridership in 2019 was 32.9 million passengers.

The agency says its revenue, while higher, has also been impacted by a reduction in business travel, as well as by closures and delays on some of its lines. “Amtrak in March said it was boosting passenger services on the East Coast as it aims to double ridership nationwide by 2040. It will boost service between Boston and Washington by as much as 20% on weekdays and will add 1 million additional seats over the next year.”