(The following story by Ted Jackovics appeared on The Tampa Tribune website on August 21, 2009.)
TAMPA, Fla. — Ridership in June on Amtrak’s Silver Star, which serves Tampa on its daily northbound and southbound New York-Miami runs, declined 12.8 percent compared with a year ago to 32,889 passengers.
No data was immediately available on the number of passengers who traveled to and from Tampa’s Union Station.
Amtrak ridership nationwide was down 8.3 percent in June to 2.35 million passengers compared with June 2008.
Officials cited the nation’s economic slowdown and lower gas prices for motorists for Amtrak’s ridership decline.