Amtrak, the American National Railroad Passenger Corporation, has confirmed record numbers of passengers for 2008.
Ridership reached 23.7 million, a 13.9% rise over 2007 and revenues from ticket sales climbed to $168m, an 18.6% jump from the previous year.
The increase in passenger numbers is believed to be as a result of high gasoline prices and growing environmental concerns.
Amtrak's total passenger service equals less than 1% of US commuters. In contrast, Britain, France and Germany all have passenger rail systems that account for about 6–8% of total annual passenger travel miles.
Amtrak's premier service, the high-speed Acela Express, averages 82 miles per hour although it can hit 150mph in parts of Rhode Island and Connecticut. By contrast, Japan, France and Germany have developed nationwide rail systems capable of speeds of 150–185mph on dedicated tracks with sophisticated signalling systems designed for high-speed trains.
Congress has sought to stop direct federal funding for Amtrak which operates at a significant loss and has instead advocated an increase in the role of the private sector in the railway system
Rail advocates, however, have argued that the railway system, like interstate highways is crucial to the country and so shouldn't be required to turn a profit.
By Daniel Garrun
