(The Sacramento Bee posted the following story by Matthew Barrows on its website on May 9.)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the third time since November, Amtrak officials threw a platform party to celebrate an additional round trip on its Capitol Corridor service.
Thursday’s ceremony at the Sacramento Amtrak station — complete with yellow balloons and confetti bombs — kicked off the 23rd and 24th weekday trains running between the state capital and the Bay Area.
Atlantis Casino
And it was a scene that’s quickly becoming routine on one of the fastest-growing commuter routes in the nation. In January, officials had a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Oakland in honor of the 22nd Capitol Corridor train. In November, they had celebrated the 20th train on the service.
“This in a state that has not exactly been known for its train service,” said Gene Skoropowski, managing director of the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority.
In April, the latest month for which ridership figures are available, nearly 102,000 passengers rode Capitol Corridor trains, marking the eight straight month of record-breaking ridership.
Though the Capitol Corridor recently held the title of fastest-growing route in the nation, that honor now belongs to the Pacific Surfliner trains in Southern California. That route carried 192,000 passengers in April, a 25 percent increase over a year ago.
Meanwhile, the San Joaquins, which run between Sacramento and Bakersfield, have seen a 12 percent increase in ridership since last year.
All three services are funded in part by the state, which has invested more than $700 million in passenger rail over the last four years — far more than any other state.
“Californians now account for 20 percent of all Amtrak ridership across the country,” said state Transportation Department Director Jeff Morales.
Officials also unveiled electronic message boards that use satellite-based technology to tell passengers exactly when the next train will arrive.
Skoropowski said all 16 stops on the route will have the signs.
Passengers also can access up-to-date schedule information at ww.amtrakcapitols.com.
The two new Capitol trains are No. 533, departing Sacramento for Oakland at 10:40 a.m., and No. 526, which leaves Oakland for Sacramento at 9:15 a.m.