Capitol Corridor notches ridership increase
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefCalifornia’s Capitol Corridor, Amtrak’s third-busiest intercity passenger rail service route, has reported a double-digit increase in November ridership, with 10% more travelers compared with the same period last year.
The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), which oversees the route, attributes the ridership increase in large measure to “the end of the state’s ‘Furlough Fridays’ and a record-breaking Thanksgiving travel weekend.”
CCJPA “definitely saw a link between Furlough Fridays and decreased ridership,” Chairman Jim Holmes said. “We expected ridership to grow when Furlough Fridays ended in October, but we were thrilled to see ridership soar to double digits last month. Nearly 143,000 people rode our trains, up from 129,294 customers in 2009.”
CCJPA also attributes increased November ridership to an improved economy, high customer satisfaction ratings, and a 96% on-time performance record, which it says makes the Capitol Corridor the most reliable passenger rail service in the nation.
