Post Tagged with: "North East Corridor"

What Recession? Amtrak’s NE Corridor Boosts Revenue, Confirms Growing Interest and Ridership for Rail

October 19, 2010 at 11:50 am

After years of sluggishnesses, there is a growing momentum for rail travel in this country and the Government is starting to realize the need for more investment in the rail sector. If there is any solid proof for demand, this had to be it: “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston.” Now, can we get really serious and get real HSR along the NE corridor? If people get a taste of what it is like to travel at 220mph downtown to downtown at a reasonable price, without having to wait in security lines, and paying for extra baggage and stuff like that, then rail will become a truly viable option compared to aviation.

Amplify’d from www.economist.com

AMTRAK, America’s government-owned passenger rail company, has had a good recession. Ridership and ticket sales have steadily increased—presumably as people realise that comfortable seats, city-center-to-city-center travel, and less security theatre are all good things. Amtrak’s fiscal year 2010 continued the trend. The company carried 28.7 million riders, up 5.7% from FY 2009, and revenues from ticket sales were $1.74 billion, up 9% from last year. Almost 40% more people rode Amtrak this year than did in 2000. 

Ridership along the corridor was up 4.3%, while ridership on the corridor’s “high speed” Acela trains was up 6.5%. (Since business travellers favor the Acela, the good numbers there are a sign that business travel is fuelling Amtrak’s growth.) “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston,” the company said in a press release [PDF].

Read more at www.economist.com
 
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/d85b

Read more Comments Off

What Recession? Amtrak’s NE Corridor Boosts Revenue, Confirms Growing Interest and Ridership for Rail

October 19, 2010 at 11:41 am

After years of sluggishnesses, there is a growing momentum for rail travel in this country and the Government is starting to realize the need for more investment in the rail sector. If there is any solid proof for demand, this had to be it: “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston.” Now, can we get really serious and get real HSR along the NE corridor? If people get a taste of what it is like to travel at 220mph downtown to downtown at a reasonable price, without having to wait in security lines, and paying for extra baggage and stuff like that, then rail will become a truly viable option compared to aviation.

Amplify’d from www.economist.com

AMTRAK, America’s government-owned passenger rail company, has had a good recession. Ridership and ticket sales have steadily increased—presumably as people realise that comfortable seats, city-center-to-city-center travel, and less security theatre are all good things. Amtrak’s fiscal year 2010 continued the trend. The company carried 28.7 million riders, up 5.7% from FY 2009, and revenues from ticket sales were $1.74 billion, up 9% from last year. Almost 40% more people rode Amtrak this year than did in 2000. 

Ridership along the corridor was up 4.3%, while ridership on the corridor’s “high speed” Acela trains was up 6.5%. (Since business travellers favor the Acela, the good numbers there are a sign that business travel is fuelling Amtrak’s growth.) “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston,” the company said in a press release [PDF].

Read more at www.economist.com
 
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/d85b

Read more Comments Off

What Recession? Amtrak’s NE Corridor Boosts Revenue, Confirms Growing Interest and Ridership for Rail

October 19, 2010 at 11:33 am

After years of sluggishnesses, there is a growing momentum for rail travel in this country and the Government is starting to realize the need for more investment in the rail sector. If there is any solid proof for demand, this had to be it: “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston.” Now, can we get really serious and get real HSR along the NE corridor? If people get a taste of what it is like to travel at 220mph downtown to downtown at a reasonable price, without having to wait in security lines, and paying for extra baggage and stuff like that, then rail will become a truly viable option compared to aviation.

Amplify’d from www.economist.com

AMTRAK, America’s government-owned passenger rail company, has had a good recession. Ridership and ticket sales have steadily increased—presumably as people realise that comfortable seats, city-center-to-city-center travel, and less security theatre are all good things. Amtrak’s fiscal year 2010 continued the trend. The company carried 28.7 million riders, up 5.7% from FY 2009, and revenues from ticket sales were $1.74 billion, up 9% from last year. Almost 40% more people rode Amtrak this year than did in 2000. 

Ridership along the corridor was up 4.3%, while ridership on the corridor’s “high speed” Acela trains was up 6.5%. (Since business travellers favor the Acela, the good numbers there are a sign that business travel is fuelling Amtrak’s growth.) “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston,” the company said in a press release [PDF].

Read more at www.economist.com
 
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/d85b

Read more Comments Off

What Recession? Amtrak’s NE Corridor Boosts Revenue, Confirms Growing Interest and Ridership for Rail

October 19, 2010 at 11:28 am

After years of sluggishnesses, there is a growing momentum for rail travel in this country and the Government is starting to realize the need for more investment in the rail sector. If there is any solid proof for demand, this had to be it: “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston.” Now, can we get really serious and get real HSR along the NE corridor? If people get a taste of what it is like to travel at 220mph downtown to downtown at a reasonable price, without having to wait in security lines, and paying for extra baggage and stuff like that, then rail will become a truly viable option compared to aviation.

Amplify’d from www.economist.com

AMTRAK, America’s government-owned passenger rail company, has had a good recession. Ridership and ticket sales have steadily increased—presumably as people realise that comfortable seats, city-center-to-city-center travel, and less security theatre are all good things. Amtrak’s fiscal year 2010 continued the trend. The company carried 28.7 million riders, up 5.7% from FY 2009, and revenues from ticket sales were $1.74 billion, up 9% from last year. Almost 40% more people rode Amtrak this year than did in 2000. 

Ridership along the corridor was up 4.3%, while ridership on the corridor’s “high speed” Acela trains was up 6.5%. (Since business travellers favor the Acela, the good numbers there are a sign that business travel is fuelling Amtrak’s growth.) “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston,” the company said in a press release [PDF].

Read more at www.economist.com
 
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/d85b

Read more Comments Off

What Recession? Amtrak’s NE Corridor Boosts Revenue, Confirms Growing Interest and Ridership for Rail

October 19, 2010 at 11:23 am

After years of sluggishnesses, there is a growing momentum for rail travel in this country and the Government is starting to realize the need for more investment in the rail sector. If there is any solid proof for demand, this had to be it: “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston.” Now, can we get really serious and get real HSR along the NE corridor? If people get a taste of what it is like to travel at 220mph downtown to downtown at a reasonable price, without having to wait in security lines, and paying for extra baggage and stuff like that, then rail will become a truly viable option compared to aviation.

Amplify’d from www.economist.com

AMTRAK, America’s government-owned passenger rail company, has had a good recession. Ridership and ticket sales have steadily increased—presumably as people realise that comfortable seats, city-center-to-city-center travel, and less security theatre are all good things. Amtrak’s fiscal year 2010 continued the trend. The company carried 28.7 million riders, up 5.7% from FY 2009, and revenues from ticket sales were $1.74 billion, up 9% from last year. Almost 40% more people rode Amtrak this year than did in 2000. 

Ridership along the corridor was up 4.3%, while ridership on the corridor’s “high speed” Acela trains was up 6.5%. (Since business travellers favor the Acela, the good numbers there are a sign that business travel is fuelling Amtrak’s growth.) “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston,” the company said in a press release [PDF].

Read more at www.economist.com
 
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/d85b

Read more Comments Off

What Recession? Amtrak’s NE Corridor Boosts Revenue, Confirms Growing Interest and Ridership for Rail

October 19, 2010 at 11:20 am

After years of sluggishnesses, there is a growing momentum for rail travel in this country and the Government is starting to realize the need for more investment in the rail sector. If there is any solid proof for demand, this had to be it: “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston.” Now, can we get really serious and get real HSR along the NE corridor? If people get a taste of what it is like to travel at 220mph downtown to downtown at a reasonable price, without having to wait in security lines, and paying for extra baggage and stuff like that, then rail will become a truly viable option compared to aviation.

Amplify’d from www.economist.com

AMTRAK, America’s government-owned passenger rail company, has had a good recession. Ridership and ticket sales have steadily increased—presumably as people realise that comfortable seats, city-center-to-city-center travel, and less security theatre are all good things. Amtrak’s fiscal year 2010 continued the trend. The company carried 28.7 million riders, up 5.7% from FY 2009, and revenues from ticket sales were $1.74 billion, up 9% from last year. Almost 40% more people rode Amtrak this year than did in 2000. 

Ridership along the corridor was up 4.3%, while ridership on the corridor’s “high speed” Acela trains was up 6.5%. (Since business travellers favor the Acela, the good numbers there are a sign that business travel is fuelling Amtrak’s growth.) “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston,” the company said in a press release [PDF].

Read more at www.economist.com
 
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/d85b

Read more Comments Off

What Recession? Amtrak’s NE Corridor Boosts Revenue, Confirms Growing Interest and Ridership for Rail

October 19, 2010 at 11:18 am

After years of sluggishnesses, there is a growing momentum for rail travel in this country and the Government is starting to realize the need for more investment in the rail sector. If there is any solid proof for demand, this had to be it: “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston.” Now, can we get really serious and get real HSR along the NE corridor? If people get a taste of what it is like to travel at 220mph downtown to downtown at a reasonable price, without having to wait in security lines, and paying for extra baggage and stuff like that, then rail will become a truly viable option compared to aviation.

Amplify’d from www.economist.com

AMTRAK, America’s government-owned passenger rail company, has had a good recession. Ridership and ticket sales have steadily increased—presumably as people realise that comfortable seats, city-center-to-city-center travel, and less security theatre are all good things. Amtrak’s fiscal year 2010 continued the trend. The company carried 28.7 million riders, up 5.7% from FY 2009, and revenues from ticket sales were $1.74 billion, up 9% from last year. Almost 40% more people rode Amtrak this year than did in 2000. 

Ridership along the corridor was up 4.3%, while ridership on the corridor’s “high speed” Acela trains was up 6.5%. (Since business travellers favor the Acela, the good numbers there are a sign that business travel is fuelling Amtrak’s growth.) “Amtrak now enjoys a 65 percent share of the air-rail market between Washington and New York and a 52 percent share of the air-rail market between New York and Boston,” the company said in a press release [PDF].

Read more at www.economist.com
 
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/d85b

Read more Comments Off

A study of how local petty politics undermines national progress: A High-Speed Rail Perspective

October 4, 2010 at 6:20 pm

Image Courtesy: NY Times - John Badman/The Telegraph, via Associated Pres

Hmmm.. Individual agendas and petty partisan politics are often the biggest road blocks for progressive nation building in most democracies around the world and the U.S. not so immune to this trend. An article from today’s New York Times documents such a situation and dissects the issues facing the High-Speed Rail program in light of the upcoming elections.

Republican candidates for governor in some of the states that won the biggest stimulus rail awards are reaching for the emergency brake.

In Wisconsin, which got more than $810 million in federal stimulus money to build a train linebetween Milwaukee and Madison, Scott Walker, the Milwaukee County executive and Republican candidate for governor, has made his opposition to the project central to his campaign.

Mr. Walker, who worries that the state could be required to spend $7 million to $10 million a year to operate the trains once the line is built, started a Web site, www.NoTrain.com, and has run a television advertisement in which he calls the rail project a boondoggle.

….Similar concerns are threatening to stall many of the nation’s biggest train projects. In Ohio, the Republican candidate for governor, John Kasich, is vowing to kill a $400 million federal stimulus project to link Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati by rail. In Florida, Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for governor, has questioned whether the state should invest in the planned rail line from Orlando to Tampa. The state got $1.25 billion in federal stimulus money for the project, but it will cost at least twice that much to complete.

And the nation’s most ambitious high-speed rail project, California’s $45 billion plan to link Los Angeles and San Francisco with trains that would go up to 220 miles per hour, could be delayed if Meg Whitman, a Republican, is elected governor. “In the face of the state’s current fiscal crisis, Meg doesn’t believe we can afford the costs associated with new high-speed rail at this time,” said Tucker Bounds, a campaign spokesman.

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/cZqjSy

Read more Comments Off

What does it take to go from 63mph to 220mph? $117 Billion and 30 yrs according to Amtrak

September 28, 2010 at 6:39 pm

Lofty plans.. But no money in place.. It will be interesting to see how Amtrak is going to execute this grand vision while living on tax payer dollars..

Amplify’d from voices.washingtonpost.com

Amtrak is unveiling a $117 billion, 30-year vision for high-speed rail on the East Coast that would drastically reduce travel times along the congested corridor.

At a news conference at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station on Tuesday, Amtrak President Joseph Boardman said the proposal is at the visionary stage, and there’s no funding plan in place. It aims for high-speed rail by 2040.

Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com
 
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/c3Zeh3

Read more Comments Off