Amtrak rolling ahead for tourists

The long-distance trains that serve as the backbone of America’s national intercity passenger rail network are attracting more tourists, says the company’s president and ceo Joseph Boardman.

The train company’s growing appeal among travellers is in part a result of the Route Performance Improvement programme put in place by Amtrak in 2007 that focused on several routes addressing all elements of train service that impact the passenger experience, he said.

The changes focused on employee-passenger interactions, staffing levels, food service and amenities, equipment cleanliness and reliability, stations, and schedules.

On the Coast Starlight (Los Angeles – Seattle), Amtrak upgraded sleeping cars, enhanced room service and re-trained employees to focus on high-level customer service.  On the Lake Shore Limited (Chicago – New York / Boston), Amtrak added sleeping car service to Boston, overhauled the dining cars, introduced a menu with higher quality items, and changed the schedule to depart Chicago earlier in order to arrive earlier in New York.

Boardman commented that Amtrak is now working on a plan to dramatically improve the performance of the Sunset Limited (Los Angeles – New Orleans) and increase it from tri-weekly to daily service. 

Total ridership on Amtrak’s 15 long-distance trains reached nearly 4.2 million in the fiscal year 2009, an increase of 13% from 2006.

Amtrak.com