09.12.12

Durbin: Amtrak Ridership Increase Is More Good News for Illinois Travelers and Businesses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the increase in Amtrak ridership over the last year is good news for travelers that looking for a safer, greener, more efficient transportation option and businesses that rely on the economic activity generated along the four Illinois-supported Amtrak routes.  Earlier today, Amtrak announced that nationwide ridership has increased 3.4% over the first 11 months of Amtrak’s fiscal year with September expected to be on pace to break the fiscal year 2011 record of 30.2 million passengers. 

 

“Amtrak continues to be a popular choice for families and business travelers in Illinois.  Over the last 11 months, riders took over 100,000 more trips on Illinois-supported Amtrak routes than they did during the same period last fiscal year – that’s a 5.6% increase,” said Durbin.  “This is great news for the residents and businesses along these routes that benefit from the increased economic activity that Amtrak service brings to their communities.  This high demand is also a good sign for the planned new route from Chicago to the Quad Cities.  I will continue working with Amtrak, the Surface Transportation Board and freight railroads to further improve on-time-performance which will make train travel an even more attractive mode of transportation in Illinois.”

 

Illinois Ridership Increases Comparison

 

Chicago to St. Louis Route – Despite months of bussing as the tracks were upgraded to accommodate high speed rail, over the first 11 months of the 2012 fiscal year, the Chicago-Joliet-Pontiac-Springfield-St. Louis route saw a 10.9% increase in ridership with over 60,000 more passengers than in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2011. 

 

  • FY12 – 619,073 passengers
  • FY11 – 558,330 passengers

 

Chicago to Carbondale Route – During the first 11 months of the 2012 fiscal year, the Chicago-Kankakee-Champaign-Mattoon-Carbondale route saw a 4.6% increase in ridership with over 15,000 more passengers than in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2011. 

 

  • FY2012 – 342,733 passengers
  • FY2011 – 327,601 passengers

 

Chicago to Quincy Route – During the first 11 months of the 2012 fiscal year, the Chicago-Kewanee-Galesburg-Quincy route saw a 4% increase in ridership with over 9,000 more passengers than in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2011. 

 

  • FY2012 – 243,193 passengers
  • FY2011 – 233,860 passengers

 

Chicago to Milwaukee Route – During the first 11 months of the 2012 fiscal year, the Chicago to Milwaukee route saw a 2.5% increase in ridership with nearly 20,000 more passengers than in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2011.

 

  • FY2012 – 773,424 passengers
  • FY2011 – 754,582 passengers