(The following report by Ed Ernstes appeared at WSBT.com on January 7, 2010.)
ELKHART, Ind. — It’s a scene that is being repeated in Elkhart. More people are taking the Amtrak train. Doug Williams of Elkhart is taking the train for the first time, heading to Minnesota.
“Basically, you don’t have to deal with the airports,” Williams said. “You know, sometimes you have to go to the airport two hours earlier to catch a flight, check your bags…and it costs less too.”
He’s joining a growing number of people around Elkhart County who are taking the Amtrak.
Ridership continues to steadily increase at the Elkhart station. Recent statistics show that it went over 2,300 passengers in 2008, compared to 2007.
Right now, there are no final numbers for 2009, but numbers are up.
“As time goes on, it’s starting to build up more and more,” Mary Ann Stroup, a station attendant said. “ When I first came, there was days when you didn’t have anybody. With some, it’s the allure because prices are cheaper.”
“Ridership has increased a lot even since gas prices jumped,” Clyde Reynolds, an Amtrak conductor said. “ The trains are running on time now and now things are just a lot better, people are just riding like crazy.”
Thursday morning, the first two trains that run through Elkhart were already sold out up the line. Passengers couldn’t get on it.
“The train from Washington D.C. this morning was sold out. We had about 10 people waiting for the second train,” Stroup said.
Workers at the train station told us that a growing number of Amish people in Elkhart County are riding on Amtrak.