Amtrak expects record ridership

Amtrak officials say they'll believe they'll set ridership records in 2010.

Ridership was up 4.3 percent during the first half of fiscal 2010 with a record 13.6 million passengers. That's about 100,000 more than the 13.5 million it had during the first half of fiscal 2008, when a record 28.7 million passengers rode Amtrak trains between October and March.

Joseph Boardman, president and chief executive of the rail carrier, said an improving economy and high fuel prices were both factors in ridership growth. Among Amtrak's growing segments are its high-speed Acela Express service that runs along the Northeast corridor. Long-distance routes between Chicago and New Orleans, and New Orleans and Los Angeles also saw growth.

-- Associated Press