by bwparker1
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- With gas prices surging upward again, ticket sales
are hot for the Portland-to-Boston Downeaster passenger train.
Winter is usually a slow season for the Downeaster, but this year has been
an exception, with ridership for the quarter up 35 percent over last year's
figure. Many of the trains are now sold out days in advance.
To accommodate all of the riders, the Northern New England Passenger Rail
Authority has added a car to one of its trains during school vacation week.
The rail authority says it is now talking to Amtrak about getting an extra
car for the tourism season ahead.
"We're looking into the summer with Amtrak to see what they might have
available, because we may need to have that extra car at least as much as we
can during the summer," the authority's Lou Ensor said told WCSH-TV.
Rail service officials say the gain in ridership is due to the high price of
gas, shortened trips to Boston and the Downeaster becoming recognized as a
dependable way to travel. It rates near the top of Amtrak trains for on-time
service.
The Downeaster, which marked its fourth anniversary this week, is no longer
considered a novelty and is used regularly by commuters.
Transportation officials are looking into extending its Maine runs to
Brunswick.
Worries of high gasoline prices this summer were heightened Thursday as oil
prices hit a record high of $72.49 following a drop in U.S. gasoline stocks.
That has prompted concern that refiners lack an adequate inventory cushion
ahead of the peak summer driving season, which could translate into higher
prices at the pump.
are hot for the Portland-to-Boston Downeaster passenger train.
Winter is usually a slow season for the Downeaster, but this year has been
an exception, with ridership for the quarter up 35 percent over last year's
figure. Many of the trains are now sold out days in advance.
To accommodate all of the riders, the Northern New England Passenger Rail
Authority has added a car to one of its trains during school vacation week.
The rail authority says it is now talking to Amtrak about getting an extra
car for the tourism season ahead.
"We're looking into the summer with Amtrak to see what they might have
available, because we may need to have that extra car at least as much as we
can during the summer," the authority's Lou Ensor said told WCSH-TV.
Rail service officials say the gain in ridership is due to the high price of
gas, shortened trips to Boston and the Downeaster becoming recognized as a
dependable way to travel. It rates near the top of Amtrak trains for on-time
service.
The Downeaster, which marked its fourth anniversary this week, is no longer
considered a novelty and is used regularly by commuters.
Transportation officials are looking into extending its Maine runs to
Brunswick.
Worries of high gasoline prices this summer were heightened Thursday as oil
prices hit a record high of $72.49 following a drop in U.S. gasoline stocks.
That has prompted concern that refiners lack an adequate inventory cushion
ahead of the peak summer driving season, which could translate into higher
prices at the pump.
