Amtrak breaks 10-year record for riders in July

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Amtrak is touting 10-year highs in riders and revenue last month as proof that it is on the way to financial health.

The national railway recorded 2,053,996 passengers in July, the highest monthly ridership since August of 1990. Amtrak took in $107.2 million in July, an increase of 11.6 percent over July a year ago. It marked only the second time Amtrak has brought in more than $100 million in a month.

Amtrak did not release information on how its expenses changed over the same period. Amtrak has consumed more than $22 billion in government subsidies since its creation in 1971 and acknowledges it will lose money again this year. It is under a congressional mandate to wean itself from federal operating subsidies by 2003.

Still, Amtrak officials hailed the results as proof that recent initiatives are succeeding.

The railroad has improved service in its Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington and plans to introduce high-speed trains on that line later this year, though that service was supposed to begin last October.

Amtrak has also expanded service and added routes throughout the nation and has introduced a service guarantee under which dissatisfied customers can get coupons for future travel.

"Amtrak is having its best summer ever, because we're putting the guest at the center of everything we do and backing it up with a one-of-a-kind guarantee," said Amtrak President George Warrington.

Gains in riders and revenue were especially pronounced in the West and South. Ridership increased nearly 40 percent on the Capitols route in California between Sacramento, San Jose and Oakland, and 44 percent on the Texas Eagle route between Chicago and San Antonio.

The Texas Eagle route expanded to daily service on May 21 from four trips a week. The number of weekly trips on the Capitols route increased as well.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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