WASHINGTON – Amtrak has set another ridership record, with 28.7 million people taking its trains last year.
That’s an 11 percent increase over the 25.8 million passengers that the national passenger railroad carried in fiscal year 2007.
Total ticket revenue for the year that ended Sept. 30 reached $1.7 billion, a 14 percent increase over the $1.5 billion taken in the previous year.
Amtrak, long criticized for its reliance on government subsidies, has been enjoying a resurgence. The railroad has posted six years of ridership and revenue growth and recently has benefited from high gas and airline prices.
Earlier this month, Congress passed a bill authorizing $13 billion in funding for Amtrak over five years. President Bush is expected to sign the legislation.