Today, Caltrans and Amtrak reported a record-setting 5.5 million passengers
rode California’s state-supported intercity passenger trains in federal
fiscal year 2008.
NEWS RELEASE
Today’s Date: November 10, 2008
Contacts: Tamie McGowen/Caltrans/(916) 657-5060
Vernae Graham/Amtrak/(510) 238-4360
Luna Salaver/Capitol Corridor/(510) 874-7474
(510) 899-2366 – pager
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Train Ridership in California Hits All-Time High
Sacramento – Californians are leaving their cars, SUVs, vans, and trucks at
home and riding trains instead in unprecedented numbers. Today, Caltrans
and Amtrak reported a record-setting 5.5 million passengers rode
California’s state-supported intercity passenger trains in federal fiscal
year 2008.
“Intercity rail travel provides Californians a welcome alternative to a
dependence on gas prices, relieves congested freeways, and improves our air
quality in comparison to auto and air travel,” said Caltrans Director Will
Kempton.
Caltrans provides about $80 million annually to Amtrak to operate three
routes for the state, including the Pacific Surfliner (San Diego to San
Luis Obispo), which is the second busiest line in the nation. In 2007-08,
the Pacific Surliner carried more than 2.89 million passengers, a seven
percent increase from the preceding year.
In Northern California, Capitol Corridor (Auburn to San Jose) trains,
carried 1.69 million riders, an impressive 16.8 percent jump from the
previous 12 months. Meanwhile nearly one million passengers (949,611) rode
the San Joaquins service (Bakersfield to Sacramento/Oakland). This past
July, ridership shot up a whopping 32 percent over July 2007, rising above
100,000 for the first time. The Capitol Corridor and the San Joaquins
ranked as the nation’s third busiest and sixth busiest lines respectively.
Amtrak ridership in federal fiscal year 2008 increased to 28,716,407,
marking the sixth straight year of gains and setting a record for the most
passengers using Amtrak trains since the National Railroad Passenger
Corporation started operations in 1971. Amtrak California Thruway motor
coaches provide service to more than 175 additional destinations throughout
California from the three state-supported routes.
“The Governor’s Proposition 1B funding, plus $190 million included in the
High Speed Rail bond passed on November 4, will give California a
competitive edge seeking federal matching funds. California’s intercity
rail program is the model for the nation,” said Eugene K. Skoropowski, the
Managing Director of the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority.
Proposition 1B, the transportation bond championed by Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger and approved by voters in 2006, provides Caltrans $400
million to
improve California’s intercity rail service, including $125 million to
purchase more rail cars and locomotives.
For more information about the train services, visit the following
websites:
