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July 22, 2008

Downeaster revenues, ridership up

By The Mainebiz News Staff

Rising gas prices helped fuel a spike in ridership for Amtrak's Downeaster in the last fiscal year, boosting revenue by 33%.

Ridership on the Portland-to-Boston train grew 28% in the 12 months through June, the biggest increase for any Amtrak line during that period, according to the Associated Press. In June, ticket revenue set an all-time record of more than $590,000, Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, told the AP. Quinn attributed the jumps in revenue and ridership to increasing gas prices, as well as the addition of a fifth daily run and a fifth passenger car.

The rail authority's board is planning to meet this summer to discuss ways to further expand capacity and for extending service to Brunswick, according to the AP.

 

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