(The Associated Press circulated the following on November 12.)
CHICAGO — Illinois transportation officials are considering buying more Amtrak passenger cars for popular routes in southern parts of the state.
Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Milt Sees (SEEZ) says he’s looking for ways to pay for train cars that would increase capacity on southern Illinois Amtrak lines.
Authorities say southern Illinois ridership has increased 15 percent from fiscal 2007. In the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 1.1 million tickets were sold on local routes.
That’s a 30-year record high.
The high cost of energy and congestion on highways and airports is drawing more travelers back to trains.
Amtrak earned a record $28.7 million in the year ended Sept. 30, the sixth straight year that ridership has increased.