Reported by David Kutrosky, Managing Director, CCJPA

(Download:  June 2011 Performance Report)

The June 2011 performance results continue positive trends for the Capitol Corridor. The streak is now at sixteen consecutive months where ridership and revenue have exceeded prior year monthly results. In June, the Capitol Corridor established another monthly record with 145,495 riders, representing a 3 percent increase over June 2010. Revenue was projected to be up 9%. On-time performance (OTP) for the Capitol Corridor slipped to 92%, primarily due to delays trespasser incidents and locomotive malfunctions; yet, OTP is 95% for the year to-date keeping the Capitol Corridor as #1 in the Amtrak system.

With the summer season in full swing, the Capitol Corridor has many marketing and advertising promotions underway to keep ridership growing: Seniors Half Off fares midweek, Kids Ride Free on Weekends, and the A’s home game. Another contributor to continued high ridership levels is the consistent superior service reliability which increases the attractiveness of the Capitol Corridor trains. The excellent OTP is due to the Union Pacific Railroad’s continued commitment to a state of good repair for the track infrastructure and disciplined dispatching.

On a related note of commitment, the CCJPA is most pleased with the results of the CCJPA’s second annual charitable food drive. From June 1 through June 15 the CCJPA sponsored the “Fight Hunger-One Stop at a Time” food drive at staffed stations along our corridor with a one-day community food drop-off event on June 6 at the Auburn/Conheim Station. Thanks to our riders, media partners and members of the community, we broke last year’s threshold of 1157 pounds by collecting 1187 pounds of food which will help provide food to many Northern California families in need over the summer.

Capitol Corridor (June 2011):

• Ridership: 145,495 riders; +3% vs. June 2010; +9% vs. prior YTD
• Revenue: $2,303,459 +9% vs. June 2010; +11% vs. prior YTD;
• On-Time Performance: 92%; YTD OTP of 95% (again keeping the Capitol Corridor service #1 in the nation).
• System Operating Ratio: 50% YTD vs. 48% in FY10; continued growth in ridership and revenue keep ratio at standard; however, diesel fuel prices remain a budget concern.
• The Capitol Corridor route continues to be third busiest route in the country, with ridership at 1.68 million for the last 12 months

Pacific Surfliners (June 2011):

• Ridership: 239,984 passengers; +14% vs. June 2010, and +7% ahead of prior YTD
• Ticket Revenue only: +19% vs. June 2010, and +11% vs. prior YTD
• On-time performance for June 2011 80% (YTD FY 2011 on-time performance: 80%)

San Joaquin (June 2011):

• Ridership: 100,947 passengers +14% vs. May 2010, and +7% vs. prior YTD
• Ticket Revenue only: +14% vs. June 2010, and +15% vs. prior YTD
• On-time performance for June 2011: 84% (YTD FY 2011 on-time performance: 90%)