Amtrak ridership increased in the first six months of fiscal year 2013, with ridership in March setting a record as the single best month ever in Amtrak’s history. Ridership grew 0.9 percent from October 2012 to March compared to the prior year, despite disruptions from weather, including Superstorm Sandy.
Amtrak said 26 of 45 routes had rider increases during the period and monthly records were set in October, December and January. Ridership on the New Haven – Springfield shuttle grew from 33,196 in March 2012 to 36,962 in March 2013, an increase of 11.3 percent. Ridership from October 2012 through March 2013 grew by 5.2 percent from the same period a year earlier.
The Acela Express ridership dropped off slightly amid the record-breaking numbers, likely due to service interruptions due to Superstorm Sandy, down 2.5 percent last month compared with a year ago.
The overall numbers are encouraging as plans continue to move forward for dramatic improvements and expansions of service on the 62-mile New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) corridor in the coming years.
Amtrak is continuing the installation of underground signal and communication cables, required to upgrade signal and communication systems for the NHHS rail corridor. Work this month is scheduled in Newington, Hartford and Windsor. The NHHS rail service project will connect communities, generate sustainable economic growth, help build energy independence, and provide links to travel corridors and markets beyond the region, officials say.
When the new service is launched in 2016, trains will operate every 30 minutes during peak periods. The full program also includes future, new train stations at North Haven, Newington, West Hartford, and Enfield.
There's more to the story at http://ctbythenumbers.info/2013/04/10/amtrak-ridership-breaks-all-time-records-local-corridor-sees-i...
