(The Associated Press distributed the following on May 30.)
RUTLAND, Vt. — More Vermonters are riding the state’s two Amtrak passenger trains.
But the trains have had a poor record of arriving on time.
Officials say that March ridership on the train called the Vermonter, which runs between St. Albans and Washington D.C., was up 17 percent over last year. December saw a 14 percent increase.
Ridership on the Ethan Allen Express between Rutland and New York City was up 10 percent in March and 7 percent in December.
Charles Moore the chairman of the Vermont Rail Council says ridership is up because fuel prices are so high.
But Moore says the on-time record for both trains is getting worse.
Amtrak officials say the delays are caused by traffic congestion caused by other trains.