From Gene Skoropowski
Northern California Corridor ridership on the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins continues double-digit growth, despite economic slowdown and falling gas prices, while the Pacific Surfliner ridership levelled off after months of growth.

Ridership and revenue results for the month of October 2008 (the first of the new Federal Fiscal Year) remain strong even at a time when gasoline prices have fallen dramatically, and the economy is slowing down as well. Either the comfort and attractiveness of the trains is keeping the growth going, or the fares are still the best bargain in the travel industry, or maybe a bit of both. Of course, the sustained on-time performance record may have more to do with the ridership gains than either of the other reasons.

Capitol Corridor (October 2008):

157,353 passengers +16.8% vs. 2007
This is a new October record, and keeps the Capitol Corridor third busiest route in the country, by a wide margin
Passengers for 12 months of FY 2007-08: 1,716,159, breaking the 1.7 million
barrier! . (last 12 months: +17.16%)

$2,099,626 October revenue +19.5% vs. 2007

The farebox recovery revenue-to-cost ratio for October is 46.9%, reflecting the increased Amtrak cost base due to labor contracts and fuel adjustments

On-time performance for October ‘delivered to the customer’ was: 91.4%,
reflecting sustained Union Pacific performance at 99% and continued Amtrak operational performance.

This is a good start to the Fiscal Year, and performance remains well above the premier Acela Express service on the Northeast Corridor.

This is the best performance of any Amtrak-operated intercity passenger rail service in the country, whether Amtrak-dispatched or freight railroad dispatched.
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Pacific Surfliners (October 2008):

211,768 passengers -3.2% vs. October 2007, but still the second busiest route in the nation, by a wide margin
$3,677,653 October revenue: +3.1% vs. 2007

On-time performance for October: 79.2%

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San Joaquins (October 2008):

79,223 passengers +22.6% vs. October 2007

$2,239,224 October revenue: +7.8% vs. 2007

On-time performance for October: 85.5%

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Total California Intercity Corridor Ridership for October 2008: 448,344

Total Northeast Corridor ‘Spine’ ridership for October 2008: 927,331
For October 2008, the California Corridors are 48.4% of Northeast Corridor ‘Spine’ Boston-Washington ridership
Total Northeast Corridor ridership for October 2008
with branches to Springfield, MA; Albany, NY and Harrisburg, PA: 1,157,460
For October 2008, the California Corridors are 38.7% of the total Northeast
Corridor ridership
Eugene K. Skoropowski
Managing Director
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority