With gas prices up, so is ridership for Downeaster (Amtrak, Maine)

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=200794&ac=PHnws

Rising gas prices played a role in a 28 percent gain in ridership for Amtrak's Downeaster in the latest fiscal year, and operators of the Portland-to-Boston service are looking at options to accommodate future growth, officials said Monday.

The ridership gain was the biggest for any Amtrak line in the period ending June 30. Revenue for the month of June set an all-time record of more than $590,000, said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority.

On average, 947 more passengers rode the Portland-to-Boston train every day, and ticket revenue grew 33 percent for the year, Quinn said.

Gas prices were a primary reason for the increase, along with a fifth daily run and added capacity on the trains, she added.

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It's not a bad ride, especially this time of year with all of the tourist traffic. We like to go on Sunday when they have the kids ride for free deal (at least they used to).

It takes only slightly more time than driving, and gas+tolls+parking the train comes out cheaper.

Plus I think Amtrak is really proud of that line. They have this guy dressed up in Olde Fashioned engineer/ticket taker clothes, who will answer all sorts of questions about the history of Northeastern Rail Travel and such, plus can answer most questions about Boston and Portland (what to do/getting around questions anyways).

Now if they could only get the damned North Station/South Station mess all cleared up...

But if they could expand service to Lewiston/Auburn, Augusta, Waterville, Bangor and Bar Harbor, I could live with the current inconvenience at North Station...

There you could hop on the Maine Eastern. Technically anyways, it's a bit expensive and doesn't run too often.

I fully expect to see the rail lines in Maine at least mirror the turnpike, and route 26 or 302. So much traffic runs on those roads, and there is no way in hell everyone is moving closer to Portland. No room for them!