12.11.13

Durbin: Amtrak Ridership in Illinois is on the Rise

Durbin meets with Amtrak Board Chairman and Board Member Tom Carper to discuss passenger rail’s continued growth

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – As Amtrak ridership numbers continue to grow, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Amtrak Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Coscia and former Mayor of Macomb, Illinois and current member of the Amtrak Board of Directors, Thomas Carper. A photo of today’s meeting is available here.

“Amtrak made incredible progress under Chairman Carper's leadership, and we have already seen that trend continue with Chairman Coscia,” Durbin said. “Congress must also do its part by providing Amtrak with the resources it needs to continue modernizing our transportation system and creating jobs. When we invest in passenger rail, we help generate new economic activity that job-creating businesses across Illinois rely on.”

Nationwide, Amtrak routes posted significant ridership increases in fiscal year 2013 hitting a record of 31.4 million passengers. Ridership on Illinois subsidized routes over the last twelve months showed a 2.1% increase over the previous year with a total of nearly 2.6 million passengers.