Riding high? Amtrak sees ridership rise

[jpak]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/tracking_amtrak;_ylt=AqYAFzYT_ZOit1tBWRkUAQ.s0NUE

ABOARD AMTRAK'S LINCOLN SERVICE - The Illinois cornfields whizzing past Mark Hardacre's view from the Amtrak cafe car had nothing on the memorable splendor the Australian had already taken in on his trans-America adventure — the Pacific Ocean so vast and blue off California's coast. The emerald green of the Northwest forests. The majesty of the snowcapped Rockies.

But the cheery man from New South Wales was breathless about seeing a couple of things he'd not seen in his three previous Amtrak treks across this nation's rails over the past two decades — Americans seeming to outnumber tourists, and far fewer empty seats.

"It's good to see the Americans starting to use their trains, because if they don't use them they'll lose them," Hardacre, 53, said recently as Amtrak click-clacked its way from St. Louis to Chicago, just one leg of his monthlong sightseeing trip with his wife, Janice.

To Amtrak, it's proof that despite vexing challenges, it's on the right track.

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[youthere]

1. I WISH Amtrack ran through my town...

we live in a bedroom community for the Cedar Rapids Iowa city area, and the train runs right through here, but not Amtrack. How great it would be if they ran a commuter express through our community.

[Eurobabe]

2. More money for the railroads! End the influence of the US auto lobby

This is the only way to make the trains in the US viable. That and fixing up the infrastructure.

My dad will love this article he is a total train freak. Have to admit, I LOVE trains too. :hi: