(Los Angeles television station NBC4 posted the following story on its website on September 30.)
LOS ANGELES — Amtrak will mark a milestone Tuesday as passenger 2 million this year boards the Pacific Surfliner, which travels between San Diego and Los Angeles, with some routes extending to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
The passenger, who will board train 567 in San Diego, will arrive at Union Station at about 10:30 a.m. on a train that will then continue to Santa Barbara.
“This milestone is validation of the investment California has made in intercity rail service,” Gov. Gray Davis said.
“My administration has provided critical funding for the service. And Californians have responded by taking the train in record numbers, reducing traffic congestion on many busy highways,” he said.
During the month of August, ridership was up 18.7 percent on the Pacific Surfliner over the same period last year, with 221,941 passengers traveling along the route, according to Amtrak. In July, ridership was up 32.4 percent over the previous year.
In fiscal year 2002, more than 1.72 million passengers rode Surfliners, an increase of .5 percent. And in fiscal year 2003, more than 2 million passengers rode the trains, an increase of more than 25 percent from the previous year.
“The positive response from our passengers regarding the Pacific Surfliner has been overwhelming,” said Barbara Richardson, Amtrak’s vice president of marketing and sales.
“The popularity of this route is an example of how successful partnerships can enhance a service,” she said.
The Surfliners operate 11 round trips Monday through Thursday and 12 round trips Friday through Sunday between San Diego and Los Angeles. Four trips extend to Santa Barbara and one continues to San Luis Obispo.